Bombardier CL-600-2B19 accident near Detroit, Michigan, January 8, 2001
On January 8, 2001 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, registered N784CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Detroit, Michigan (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne CO. airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). 2 people had minor injuries; 31 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The vehicle driver's inadvertent failure to place the column shifter into the parking gear. A factor to the accident was the vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2001 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Detroit, Michigan · Detroit Metropolitan Wayne CO. · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 31 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier CL-600-2B19 · all CL-600-2B19s on the register
- Registration
- N784CA · registry record · serial 7319
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An unoccupied van rolled backward and impacted the left side of the airplane causing damage. An airport police report stated, "I [the investigating police officer] interviewed the driver [of the van] who stated that the vehicle had been parked about twenty yards in front of the aircraft for about two minutes before the incident. The driver [of the van] stated that he went to check oil fittings and does not know how the vehicle struck the aircraft." The reported stated that the captain of the aircraft was interviewed and, "...He [the captain of the aircraft] observed the vehicle drive towards and then strike the aircraft moving the aircraft sideways approx. [approximately] 10 inches." Post-accident inspection of the 1988 Dodge Ram Van failed to reveal any anomalies that would prevent the normal operation of the vehicle, specifically the parking brake, the column shifter, and the parking gear.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 53,250 lb
- Seats: 55
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34 (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Operator: Comair INC
The flight
- Departed from: DTW Detroit MI
- Destination: CVG Covington KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,200 ft
- Temperature: 21°F (-6°C), dew point 10°F (-12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from DTW
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 2 | ||
| Passengers | 1 | 29 |
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.