Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19 accident near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 2, 2010
On November 2, 2010 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19, registered N454SW, was substantially damaged in an accident during standing near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Pttsburgh International Airpor airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 41 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The ground crew’s failure to detach the air-starter hose from the airplane before moving the cart away resulting in structural damage to a skin panel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2010 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · Pttsburgh International Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 41 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier INC CL-600-2B19
- Registration
- N454SW · registry record · serial 7749
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the operator, the airplane was parked at the gate preparing to be pushed back when the damage occurred. A ground crew worker had connected an air-starter cart to the airplane, and then determined that the air cart was not functioning properly. The worker attempted to pull the cart away from the airplane without disconnecting the hose, resulting in substantial damage to the skin panels on the left, lower side of the airplane's fuselage.
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 handling event during standing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Physical › (general) › (general) › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,328 hours in all; 3,278 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 29, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,979 hours in all; 3,146 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 11, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 20,042 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 31, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 53,000 lb
- Seats: 55
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Ge CF34-3B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Ge CF34-3B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skywest Airlines
The flight
- Departed from: PIT Pittsburgh PA
- Destination: MSP Minneapolis MN
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.28 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from PIT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 1 | |||
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 38 |
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.