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Van Strikes Parked Airplane After Rolling Backward (N784CA)

Detroit, MI, US

On January 8, 2001, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 (registration N784CA) operated by Comair Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Detroit, MI. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The vehicle driver's inadvertent failure to place the column shifter into the parking gear. A factor to the accident was the vehicle. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 7 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N784CA
Aircraft registered N784CA. Photo: Aeroprints.com / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

An unoccupied van rolled backward and struck a parked airplane, causing damage. The driver had parked about twenty yards in front for two minutes. Post-accident inspection of the 1988 Dodge Ram Van found no anomalies with the parking brake, shifter, or parking gear.

Incident Details

An unoccupied van rolled backward and impacted the left side of an airplane, causing damage. According to an airport police report, the driver of the van stated that he had parked the vehicle about twenty yards in front of the aircraft for approximately two minutes before the incident. The driver reported that he exited the van to check oil fittings and does not know how the vehicle struck the aircraft.

Witness Account

The captain of the aircraft was interviewed and reported observing the vehicle drive toward and then strike the aircraft, moving the airplane sideways approximately 10 inches.

Post-Accident Inspection

A post-accident inspection of the 1988 Dodge Ram Van failed to reveal any anomalies that would prevent the normal operation of the vehicle, specifically the parking brake, the column shifter, and the parking gear.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 8 Jan 2001 Bombardier CL-600-2B19 accident near Detroit, MI?

An unoccupied van rolled backward and struck a parked airplane, causing damage. The driver had parked about twenty yards in front for two minutes. Post-accident inspection of the 1988 Dodge Ram Van found no anomalies with the parking brake, shifter, or parking gear.

Were there any fatalities in the 8 Jan 2001 Bombardier CL-600-2B19 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 8 Jan 2001 involved a Bombardier CL-600-2B19, registration N784CA, operated by Comair Inc, at Detroit, MI.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The vehicle driver's inadvertent failure to place the column shifter into the parking gear. A factor to the accident was the vehicle.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010117X00316. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.