Casualties unknown

Airplane Strikes Parked Airport Vehicle During Taxi (N592ML)

Philadelphia, PA, US

On October 27, 2004, a Bombardier CL-600-2B19 (registration N592ML) operated by Mesa Airlines Inc was involved in an aviation accident near Philadelphia, PA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: 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. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 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

A taxiing airplane struck a parked airport vehicle on a taxiway. The vehicle was parked 6 feet from the taxiway edge, within the safety area, and its driver had not informed air traffic control.

Event Summary

An airplane struck the rear of a parked airport vehicle while taxiing on a 50-foot wide taxiway. The flightcrew had observed the vehicle parked on the grass off the right side of the taxiway and had also seen a larger airplane taxi past that point, leading them to believe clearance was adequate. However, as they continued taxiing, the right wing of their airplane made contact with the rear of the vehicle.

Taxiway and Vehicle Details

The taxiway had a safety area that extended an additional 34 feet from its edge. The driver of the airport vehicle had parked about 6 feet from the edge of the taxiway, placing the vehicle approximately 28 feet within the safety area. The driver did not inform air traffic control that the vehicle was parked there. Additionally, buildings obstructed the view from the control tower, preventing air traffic controllers from seeing the vehicle's position.

Aftermath

The accident resulted in damage to the airplane's right wing and the airport vehicle. No information is available about any injuries, the type or registration of the aircraft, the operator, the exact date, or the airport location. The investigation into the circumstances is continued.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20041109X01790. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.