Final Report: Copilot tried to park without help

Embraer EMB-135BJ, Cleveland, Nov. 29, 2004–When a ground marshaller did not appear to help with parking a Flight Options Embraer at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport, the copilot, in the left seat, attempted to taxi behind a parked airplane, guided by the pilot in the right seat. The Embraer’s right winglet hit the parked airplane. It was night and there were no pavement markings or edge lighting. The pilot had been awake since 3 a.m.; the accident occurred at 5:45 p.m. The NTSB blamed the accident on the pilot-in-command’s improper decision to continue the taxi without a ground marshaller and her misjudged clearance from a parked airplane, which resulted in a ground collision during taxi. The report cited fatigue, night conditions and a lack of ramp markings as factors.