Bombardier CL600 2D24 - 900 accident near San Antonio, Texas, August 9, 2014
On August 9, 2014 at about 12:34 pm local time, a 2006 Bombardier CL600 2D24 - 900, registered N943LR, was substantially damaged in an accident during pushback/towing near San Antonio, Texas (San Antonio Intl airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 80 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of the tow bar shear pin, which resulted in the tug operator’s loss of control of the airplane during pushback operations. Contributing to the accident was the tug operator’s inability to communicate to the flight crew to apply the airplane’s brakes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 2014 · about 12:34 pm local time
- Place
- San Antonio, Texas · San Antonio Intl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 80 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier CL600 2D24 - 900, built 2006 · all CL600 2D24 - 900s on the register
- Registration
- N943LR · no longer on the register · serial 15068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During pushback from the gate, the tug positioned the airplane on the taxiway. Before disconnecting, the tug reversed and the airplane rolled forward while still attached to the tug. As the airplane rolled past the tug, the tug impacted the left side of the fuselage. The tow bar pin was found sheared, but it could not be determined if the pin failed before or during the tow operation. Further, the operator did not have an immediate means of communicating with the flight crew the need to apply the brakes while the tug was still attached. The tug operator's postaccident urine test was positive for marijuana, which indicated prior use. However, it could not be determined whether the tug operator was impaired by the effects of marijuana at the time of the event.
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 pushback/towing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Ground crew
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,454 hours in all; 10,871 in this make and model; 238 in the last 90 days; 72 in the last 30 days; 11,381 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 9, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,864 hours in all; 1,864 in this make and model; 208 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 9, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Other crew
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 12,283 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 26, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 82,060 lb
- Seats: 80
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF34-8C5 (turbofan); 25,683 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF34-8C5 (turbofan); 23,204 hours total
- Operator: Mesa Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: SAT San Antonio TX
- Destination: PHX Phoenix AZ
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 12:51 pm from KSAT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 76 |
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.