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Accidents · NTSB DEN03LA096 · Final report

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).

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 November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
June 2, 2003 · about 11:40 pm local time · cases in 2003
Place
Denver, Colorado · Denver Intl · cases near this airport · 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

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew3
Passengers24

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

2005-11-29DEN06IA020 · incident near Denver, CO · minor damage · no injuries

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

Aircraft
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Analytics

The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/DEN03LA096.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.