Embraer EMB-120ER accident near Denver, Colorado, June 2, 2003
On June 2, 2003 at about 11:40 pm local time, a Embraer EMB-120ER, registered N299UX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Denver, Colorado (Denver Intl airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 27 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the ground personnel's failure to maintain aircraft/ground vehicle clearance, resulting in the collision. Contributing factors include ground communications not coordinated by the ground personnel and the airport vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2003 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Denver, Colorado · Denver Intl · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 27 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Embraer EMB-120ER · all EMB-120ERs on the register
- Registration
- N299UX · no longer on the register · serial 120299
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was "following the ramp agent's marshalling signals" while parking the airplane. He initiated a right turn as signaled and stopped when he lost sight of the ramp agent. The ramp agent had bent down to move a set of wheel chocks. The ramp agent "came back into [the pilot's] view after a few seconds and gave [him] the command to continue [his] right turn." Once the turn was initiated, it "became difficult to move [the airplane] without having to use more power than should be required." The pilot stopped the airplane and upon exiting, discovered that the airplane had come in contact with one of the ramp vehicles." The airplane's right aft fuselage was crushed inward puncturing the aft cabin pressure bulkhead. The tug operator stated he had observed the airplane stop and thought it was finished parking and ready for service. He positioned the tug and baggage cart behind the airplane to unload baggage. The airplane began to move again and he was unable to move the tug before the collision occurred. The ramp agent did not see the tug move in behind the airplane prior to re-initiating the airplane turn.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,993 hours in all; 1,350 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 2,566 as pilot in command; 164 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 15, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,005 hours in all; 242 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 59 in the last 30 days; 580 as pilot in command; 45 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,157 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 31, 2003; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 26,609 lb
- Seats: 33
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118B (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118B (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DIK Dickinson ND at 9:30 pm
- Destination: DEN Denver CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 am from DEN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 24 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N299UX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number DEN03LA096.