Casualties unknown

Propeller Contact Severes Ramp Agent's Fingers During Paper Retrieval (N403XJ)

Tupelo, MS, US

On July 16, 2002, a Saab-scania AB (saab) SF340B (registration N403XJ) operated by Mesaba Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Tupelo, MS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: a case of impulse reactiveness on the part of the ramp agent in spite of having been trained on ground handling of the Saab 340 aircraft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-06-10Data APIEditorial standards
Aircraft registered N403XJ
Aircraft registered N403XJ. Photo: Sunnya343 / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

A ramp agent's right hand contacted a moving propeller while trying to retrieve flight papers that blew out of her pocket, severing her thumb and two fingers.

Incident Overview

According to numerous eyewitnesses, an airline ramp agent was marshaling an arriving Saab-340B to its parking spot. After chocking the nose wheel, she began delivering flight papers to the captain's access port. During this process, the papers blew out of her breast pocket. As she attempted to retrieve the loose papers, her right hand contacted the winding down left propeller, resulting in the severance of her thumb and two fingers.

Manager's Assessment

The ramp agent's manager characterized the cause of the incident as a case of impulse reactiveness on the part of the ramp agent, despite her having been trained on ground handling procedures for the Saab 340 aircraft.

Contextual Details

The event involved a Saab-340B aircraft. The ramp agent was performing standard duties related to aircraft arrival and ground handling. The propeller was still winding down at the time of the contact. No other injuries or damage were reported from the incident.

Probable cause

a case of impulse reactiveness on the part of the ramp agent in spite of having been trained on ground handling of the Saab 340 aircraft

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20020717X01153. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.