Bombardier, Inc. 35A accident near Charlotte, North Carolina, January 30, 2008
On January 30, 2008 at about 5:15 am local time, a Bombardier, Inc. 35A, registered N55F, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi near Charlotte, North Carolina (Charlotte/Douglas Internationa airport). It was flown under charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135). 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 tug driver's failure to stop for a taxiway stop sign.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 2008 · about 5:15 am local time
- Place
- Charlotte, North Carolina · Charlotte/Douglas Internationa · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Bombardier, Inc. 35A
- Registration
- N55F · no longer on the register · serial 147
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Bombardier (LearJet) 35A had just landed, and was taxiing on taxiway A during night conditions. A tug was traveling south on an access road, and approaching the taxiway A stop sign. The tug did not slow for the stop sign, traveled past it, and struck the nose of the airplane. The stop sign had flashing red lights that were operating at the time of the collision, and the driver of the tug did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the vehicle. The recorded weather at the airport, about the time of the accident, included scattered clouds at 3,800 feet, and 8 miles visibility in light rain.
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 collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Ground crew
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,800 hours in all; 17,000 in this make and model; 121 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 27,400 as pilot in command; 1,670 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with 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: 2,396 hours in all; 69 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 66 in the last 30 days; 2,185 as pilot in command; 870 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26,320 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 1, 2007; 61 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 18,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Honeywell TFE 731 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Honeywell TFE 731 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PHL Philadelphia PA at 3:47 am
- Destination: CLT Charlotte NC
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; scat at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.69 inHg
- Observation at 4:52 am from CLT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.