Primary finding
Probable cause
the passenger inadvertently lost his balance and fell, while deplaning.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The operator stated the following: 'As passengers deplaned at Providence, [a passenger] appeared to lose his balance as he started down the aircraft stairs. As he fell, he turned to grab the hand rail. A passenger service agent located at the bottom of the stairs tried to catch him as he fell. [The passenger] ended up at the bottom of the aircraft stairs on his back. Airport emergency service [attended the passenger's] injuries, and he was transported to the hospital.'
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 11, 1996, about 1300 eastern daylight time, a Saab SF340A, N744BA, operated by Business Express Airlines Inc., as flight number 4772, was deplaning when a passenger fell from the steps and received serious injuries. The scheduled, commuter air carrier, passenger flight departed La Guardia Airport, New York, destined for Theodore Francis Green State Airport, Providence, Rhode Island. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 121. In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the operator stated: "As passengers deplaned at Providence, [a passenger] appeared to lose his balance as he started down the aircraft stairs. As he fell, he turned to grab the hand rail. A passenger service agent located at the bottom of the stairs tried to catch him as he fell. [The passenger] ended up at the bottom of the aircraft stairs on his back. Airport emergency services [attended the passenger's] injuries, and he was transported to the hospital." -