Raytheon Corporate Jets 400A accident near Cleveland, Ohio, December 18, 2004
On December 18, 2004 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Raytheon Corporate Jets 400A, registered N417CW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleveland, Ohio (Cuyahoga County Airport). It was a positioning flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of directional control by the operator of a ground service vehicle.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 2004 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Ohio · Cuyahoga County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Corporate Jets 400A
- Registration
- N417CW · no longer on the register · serial RK-17
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator of the ground service vehicle was driving towards the airplane to unplug the ground power unit after the pilots started the engines. As the vehicle was being positioned around the airplane, a tow bar, which was placed on the vehicle, began to slip off. The vehicle operator attempted to grab the tow bar and steer the vehicle at the same time, but fell off the vehicle onto the ground. The unoccupied vehicle continued towards the airplane, striking the right wing.
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
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,550 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,331 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 76 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 7, 2004; 6,461 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,300 lb
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT15D-5 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Options, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: CGF Cleveland OH
- Destination: RSW Fort Meyers FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.