No fatalities

Twin-Engine Aircraft Rolls Forward, Collides with Ground Equipment on Ramp

Colorado Springs, CO, United States

On September 5, 2010, a BEECH E-90 operated by Sundance Farms Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Colorado Springs, CO. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to ensure that the airplane’s parking brake was properly set before diverting his attention to other tasks. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

After a night landing, a twin-engine airplane rolled forward while parked with engines running, striking a tug and ground power unit. The nose gear collapsed, and the pilot shut down engines. No injuries reported.

Incident Overview

Following a night landing, the pilot of a twin-engine airplane taxied to the ramp and was marshaled into a parking space by ground crew personnel. The pilot stopped the airplane and set the parking brake before continuing with other checklist items. Unbeknownst to the pilot, the airplane, with its engines still running, began to roll forward.

Collision and Damage

The airplane traveled forward and impacted a tug and ground power unit (GPU) located approximately 25 feet across the ramp. During the impact, the nose landing gear collapsed, and the nose of the airplane came to rest on the rear of the tug. The pilot immediately shut down both engines. The pilot and three passengers exited the airplane unassisted.

Examination

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and reported that the forward fuselage had sustained structural damage. No anomalies were noted with the airplane's systems.

No Injuries

No injuries were reported among the pilot, passengers, or ground personnel.

Contributing factors

Incorrect use/operationPilot