Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19 accident near Chicago, Illinois, November 2, 2010
On November 2, 2010 at about 3:27 pm local time, a Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19, registered N709BR, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing near Chicago, Illinois (O'Hare International airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 37 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pickup truck driver’s failure to follow airport and company policies regarding ground vehicle operations, which allowed for the unattended truck to collide with the airplane. Contributing to the accident were the truck's misadjusted shift lever and disconnected parking brake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2010 · about 3:27 pm local time
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois · O'Hare International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 37 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19
- Registration
- N709BR · registry record · serial 7850
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was stopped on the ramp when it was struck by an unoccupied ground service pickup truck. The truck was previously driven and parked nose first against the terminal building. The driver reported that he put the truck into Park, exited it with the engine running, and did not apply the parking brake. Surveillance video shows the airplane on the ramp as the pickup truck went towards the terminal and disappeared from view. Approximately 18 seconds later, the truck is seen moving in reverse from the terminal building and across the ramp, passing about 100 to 150 feet in front of the airplane. The video also revealed that, while still moving in reverse, the truck made a 180-degree turn and headed towards the airplane. The airplane, which was moving, stopped just prior to the truck impacting the forward left side of the airplane. A postaccident inspection of the truck revealed that the transmission shift cable was out of adjustment, which allowed the transmission to slip into reverse; the parking brake cable had also been disconnected. Additionally, the truck’s required maintenance inspection was 83.7 hours past due according to the truck's hour meter. Airline and airport procedure manuals state that vehicles are not to be left unattended with the engine running and that the parking brake must be set when a vehicle is parked. In addition, vehicles are required to be backed into designated parking spaces near buildings. Furthermore, the driver had not accomplished a complete user check of the truck at the beginning of his shift, as required by airline policy.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Maintenance personnel
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,997 hours in all; 3,156 in this make and model; 4,099 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 29, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,814 hours in all; 2,208 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 11, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 17,567 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 1, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 53,000 lb
- Seats: 50
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skyway Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: ORD Chicago IL
- Destination: MLI Moline IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.45 inHg
- Observation at 3:51 pm from ORD
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flight crew | 36 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.