Bombardier CL-600-2B19 accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 27, 2004
On October 27, 2004 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, registered N592ML, was substantially damaged in an accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia International 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 flightcrew's misjudged clearance from a parked airport vehicle while taxiing. A factor was the vehicle operator's improper decision to park within a taxiway safety area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2004 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Philadelphia International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 41 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier CL-600-2B19 · all CL-600-2B19s on the register
- Registration
- N592ML · no longer on the register · serial 7410
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was taxiing for takeoff on a 50-foot wide taxiway. The flightcrew observed an airport vehicle parked on the grass, off the right side of the taxiway. The flightcrew also observed a larger airplane that had taxied past that point, and thought the clearance was adequate. However, as the airplane continued to taxi, the right wing struck the rear of the airport vehicle. A safety area extended an additional 34 feet from the edge of the taxiway. The driver of the airport vehicle parked about 6 feet from the edge of the taxiway; about 28 feet in the safety area. The driver did not inform air traffic control that the vehicle was parked there, and buildings obstructed the view from the control tower.
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; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 28, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: July 6, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,182 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, October 25, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 53,000 lb
- Seats: 53
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: General Electric CF343B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: General Electric CF343B1 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Mesa Airlines INC
The flight
- Departed from: PHL Philadelphia PA at 3:00 pm
- Destination: CYUL Montreal
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 14,000 ft; a few clouds at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from PHL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 | |||
| 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.