Saab-Scania Saab 340B accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 13, 2003
On November 13, 2003 at about 1:15 am local time, a Saab-Scania Saab 340B, registered N442XJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Minneapolis, Minnesota (Minneapolis- St. Paul Internat airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 25 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The in-flight collision with geese during approach. The contributing factor was the bright night conditions
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2003 · about 1:15 am local time · cases in 2003
- Place
- Minneapolis, Minnesota · Minneapolis- St. Paul Internat · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 25 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Saab-Scania Saab 340B · all Saab 340Bs on the register
- Registration
- N442XJ · no longer on the register · serial 442
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The air carrier flight was substantially damaged when it impacted geese while being vectored for approach. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilots heard a "thump." They reportedly watched the engine indications and saw nothing unusual. They visually inspected their respective wings and saw no damage. The airplane landed without incident at its destination. Inspection of the airplane revealed damage to the following areas: the vertical stabilizer front lower spare, the vertical stabilizer to the rear lower spare, the dorsal fin right hand skin panels and support structure, flange damage to rudder lower support rib for leading edge panel, and the left hand wing front spare.
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
- Flight time: 3,550 in this make and model
- Last flight review: June 11, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,835 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 18, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 29,000 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CT7-9B (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CT7-9B (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mesaba Airlines Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: EAU Eau Claire WI
- Destination: MSP Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 12L, 8,200 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, bright
- Wind: from 290° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 19°F (-7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 22 |
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N442XJ: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Saab-Scania SAAB 340 42 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Saab-Scania 49 aircraft on the register
- Engine: General Electric CT7-9B 23 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: General Electric CT7-9B 23 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Minneapolis-St Paul Intl/Wold-Chamberlain Airport · nearest airport
- Chippewa Valley Regional · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Minnesota 1,544 since 1982 · 209 in the last ten years
- Minnesota 6,958 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CHI04LA033.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.