Bombardier CL-600-2B19 accident near Boston, Massachusetts, May 7, 2003
On May 7, 2003 at about 4:15 pm local time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, registered N484CA, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boston, Massachusetts (Logan International Airport). It was flown under scheduled airline rules (Part 121). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The operator's loss of control of the belt-loader while operating in the proximity of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 7, 2003 · about 4:15 pm local time
- Place
- Boston, Massachusetts · Logan International Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier CL-600-2B19 · all CL-600-2B19s on the register
- Registration
- N484CA · registry record · serial 7702
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was chocked, the seat belt sign had been turned off, and the passengers were disembarking. As the operator of a belt-loader approached the airplane, he tested the brakes, and they operated normally. When the belt-loader was about 3-4 feet from the airplane, the belt-loader operator again applied the brakes; however, they were either jammed or stuck, and would not work. He switched the transmission into neutral, but the belt-loader continued to roll forward, until it struck the fuselage of the airplane. The belt-loader operator further stated that he did not think to use the emergency brake. Post-accident examination of the belt-loader revealed no mechanical discrepancies.
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, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,800 hours in all; 5,100 in this make and model; 240 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 4,000 as pilot in command; 839 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 21, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-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: 5,107 hours in all; 1,644 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 81 in the last 30 days; 2,951 as pilot in command; 837 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 12, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,449 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 2, 2003; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 53,000 lb
- Seats: 43
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF-34-3B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF-34-3B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DCA Washington DC at 7:06 pm
- Destination: BOS Boston MA
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 12 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from BOS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
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.