On March 20, 1984, a Boeing 727-224 (registration N88706) was involved in an aviation accident near Kansas City, MO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation from ground vehicles while taxiing, and the snow removal vehicle driver's impaired visibility due to window condensation. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A snow removal vehicle operating in reverse struck the left wing leading edge while an aircraft was taxiing for takeoff, causing damage to the wing structure.
What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was taxiing the aircraft toward runway 01 in preparation for takeoff. During this phase of ground movement, a snow removal vehicle was observed operating in reverse, moving directly toward the aircraft. The pilot identified the potential conflict and attempted to maneuver the aircraft to the right to avoid a collision. Despite these evasive actions, the snow removal vehicle struck the leading edge of the left wing.
Findings
Post-accident investigation revealed that the driver of the snow removal vehicle reported significant visibility issues at the time of the incident. Specifically, the driver stated that condensation had formed on the windows of the cab, impairing their ability to see clearly and avoid the aircraft.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate separation from ground vehicles while taxiing, and the snow removal vehicle driver's impaired visibility due to window condensation.
