Probable cause
The failure of the driver of the service vehicle to yield to the taxiing airplane, which resulted in a near-collision and tail strike.
NTSB analysis
After landing in night visual meteorological conditions, the commuter flight proceeded to taxi to the ramp. Upon coming to a service road perpendicular to the taxiway, a vehicle moved directly across the airplane's taxi path. The flight crew immediately applied brakes to stop. While braking, the airplane's tail rocked aft and struck the ground. The flight crew contacted ground control to inform them about the vehicle incident and resumed taxi to the ramp, and the driver of the vehicle radioed the tower, informing them that he had cut off an aircraft. An inspection of the airplane by the operator revealed structural damage to the aft pressure bulkhead resulting from the tail strike.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN16LA052 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 3, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Chicago, Illinois
- Nearest airport
- Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 208B
- N-number
- N732MD
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2004
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 135 (charter and commuter)
Other records under this N-number
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.