Story ID: 
CRJ damaged in ground vehicle collision
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: Bombardier CRJ200, Detroit, Mich., Nov.
Word Count: 176
Bombardier CRJ200, Detroit, Mich., Nov. 18, 2008–In light rain and darkness, the Pinnacle Airlines regional jetliner collided with a ground tractor that was towing a baggage cart and suffered substantial damage after an early morning landing at Detroit’s Metro Wayne County Airport. The aircraft was cleared for taxi to the gate and was moving north to south “at a crawl,” according to the captain, when the tractor struck its left wing. According to the NTSB, all traffic usually goes from south to north, but controllers give this type of clearance late at night and in early morning when ground traffic is light. The captain stated he did not see any vehicles near the airplane as he prepared to turn into the gate. The driver noted that airplanes “did not often” taxi to the south on that taxiway and was not aware of aircraft in his vicinity. The airplane dragged the ground tractor about 25 feet before stopping. The driver, who was ejected from the tractor, suffered minor injuries. None of the 53 people onboard the CRJ was harmed.