Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19 accident near Asheville, North Carolina, September 17, 2021
On September 17, 2021 at about 5:40 pm local time, a 2003 Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19, registered N444ZW, was substantially damaged in an accident during prior to flight near Asheville, North Carolina (Asheville Rgnl airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 51 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fuel truck driver backing up in the direction of the airplane without the use of marshallers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 17, 2021 · about 5:40 pm local time
- Place
- Asheville, North Carolina · Asheville Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 51 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19, built 2003
- Registration
- N444ZW · registry record · serial 7788
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight crew, after pushback they received instructions from the ground controller to hold their position due to a 30-minute delay before takeoff. While they were holding, a fuel truck began backing up in their direction without the assistance of marshallers. The captain attempted to get the drivers attention by flashing the airplane’s landing lights. However, the fuel truck driver continued backing up and struck the airplane resulting in substantial damage to an area under the first officer’s window. The captain immediately shut down the right engine and made a public address announcement for the passengers to remain seated. Post-accident inspection revealed a hole in the forward fuselage of the airplane.
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 prior to flight defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,039 hours in all; 1,786 in this make and model; 226 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 1,688 as pilot in command; 64 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,665 hours in all; 427 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 64 in the last 30 days; 1,158 as pilot in command; 997 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Cabin Crew
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 38,506 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, September 15, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 53,250 lb
- Seats: 53
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34 SERIES (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC
The flight
- Departed from: KAVL Asheville NC at 5:22 pm
- Destination: KORD Chicago IL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,200 ft; clear at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 48 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 19, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Employee Statements | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.