Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) SF-340B N320AE

Summary

On 20 September 1996 at about 23:40 local time, a Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) SF-340B registered N320AE, operated by Wings West, was involved in an accident near Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States. 27 people were on board and one was seriously injured. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 1996 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Fort Smith Municipal (FSM)

Coordinates

35.4105, -94.3800

Aircraft

Saab-Scania Ab (Saab) SF-340B

Registration

N320AE

Category

Airplane

Engines

2

Operator

Wings West

Operating rule

Part 121: Air Carrier

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dfw Airport → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Not recorded

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW96LA394

1 person was seriously injured.

the passenger fell for undetermined reasons, while disembarking from the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was landed and parked at the passenger disembarking location at 1831, and a light rain (drizzle) was falling as passengers were disembarking. The fourth passenger stated that he disembarked down the stairway with a briefcase in his right hand. He reported that as he stepped on the second-to-last step, he 'slipped' and 'reached for a handrail to support himself.' He reported that at that point, there was no handrail for him to hold onto, and he subsequently fell to the pavement injuring himself. Handrails were incorporated with the stairway. The handrails extended down the stairs (on both sides) from the cabin door to a point where it angled about 90 degrees (down & back toward the steps). The lower end of the handrails were attached at the third step from the bottom of the stairway. The lowest usable part of the handrails extended beyond the second step (from the bottom) and at least partially over the bottom step. Although light rain was reported, the stairway was reported as not wet, since it had just been extended from the aircraft, and non-slip covering of the steps was reported to be in good condition. One of the passenger's 'Docksider' shoes was found on the stairs. Also, the company reported that the passenger believed that his briefcase might have caught on something on the way down the stairs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.