Narrative:
Two Swearingen Metro planes, N60U and N340AE, both operated by Key Lime, taxied for departure at Denver (DEN). The pilot of N340AE reported that he had taxied north on taxiway Mike (M) to the "M10" intersection. There were several company aircraft in front of him in line for runway 17R. He came to a complete stop behind a Cessna 404, remaining partially on the M taxiway. The pilot of N60U reported that he was taxiing north on the M taxiway, en route to runway 08 for departure. He had seen the lights from an aircraft holding short of runway 17R; however, he did not see the lights of N340AE until it was too late. The pilot of N60U reported he applied full brakes and used reverse thrust but was unable to avoid hitting N340AE. N340AE, was turned to the right during the collision, entangling its empennage with N60U's empennage. The outer 8 feet of N60U's right wing was severed. The outboard 2 feet of the right propeller's blades showed chordwise scratches, torsional bends, and leading edge gouges and chips. The airplane's empennage was crushed and bent.
The bottom empennage of N340AE was scraped and torn. The airplane's left wing tip was bent upward, and showed skin wrinkles. An 8-foot long, 2-foot wide section of the left outboard wing's trailing edge was torn out. The airplane's empennage was crushed and bent.
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the pilot of the taxiing aircraft to maintain clearance and adequate visual lookout for the stopped aircraft."
Damaged on the ground
| Status: | Final |
| Date: | Wednesday 3 December 2003 |
| Time: | 05:55 |
| Type: |  Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II |
| Operator: | Key Lime Air |
| Registration: | N60U |
| MSN: | TC-232 |
| First flight: | 1977 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 25932 |
| Engines: | 2 Garrett TPE331-3UW-303G |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Denver International Airport, CO (DEN) ( United States of America)
|
| Phase: | Taxi (TXI) |
| Nature: | Cargo |
| Departure airport: | Denver International Airport, CO (DEN/KDEN), United States of America |
| Garden City Municipal Airport, KS (GCK/KGCK), United States of America |
Two Swearingen Metro planes, N60U and N340AE, both operated by Key Lime, taxied for departure at Denver (DEN). The pilot of N340AE reported that he had taxied north on taxiway Mike (M) to the "M10" intersection. There were several company aircraft in front of him in line for runway 17R. He came to a complete stop behind a Cessna 404, remaining partially on the M taxiway. The pilot of N60U reported that he was taxiing north on the M taxiway, en route to runway 08 for departure. He had seen the lights from an aircraft holding short of runway 17R; however, he did not see the lights of N340AE until it was too late. The pilot of N60U reported he applied full brakes and used reverse thrust but was unable to avoid hitting N340AE. N340AE, was turned to the right during the collision, entangling its empennage with N60U's empennage. The outer 8 feet of N60U's right wing was severed. The outboard 2 feet of the right propeller's blades showed chordwise scratches, torsional bends, and leading edge gouges and chips. The airplane's empennage was crushed and bent.
The bottom empennage of N340AE was scraped and torn. The airplane's left wing tip was bent upward, and showed skin wrinkles. An 8-foot long, 2-foot wide section of the left outboard wing's trailing edge was torn out. The airplane's empennage was crushed and bent.
Probable Cause:
PROBABLE CAUSE: "The failure of the pilot of the taxiing aircraft to maintain clearance and adequate visual lookout for the stopped aircraft."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Classification:
Ground collisionDamaged on the ground
Sources:
» NTSBPhotos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Denver International Airport, CO to Garden City Municipal Airport, KS as the crow flies is 401 km (251 miles).
Distance from Denver International Airport, CO to Garden City Municipal Airport, KS as the crow flies is 401 km (251 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
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