Incident Overview
An aircraft collided with a truck during its takeoff ground run from an interstate highway. The pilot had previously landed on the same interstate due to fuel exhaustion.
Sequence of Events
The pilot indicated that the aircraft had run out of fuel during a cross-country flight and had not refueled at the departure point. The aircraft landed on the interstate without incident. The pilot then sent a passenger to obtain fuel. The passenger returned with approximately 10 gallons of 100LL aviation gasoline. Meanwhile, several truck drivers stopped highway traffic in the eastbound lanes to allow the pilot to take off. A truck was parked approximately 600 feet from the start point in the right emergency lane on the south side of the eastbound lanes.
The pilot initiated a solo takeoff from the interstate. During the takeoff roll, the aircraft accelerated to approximately 40 knots. As it passed the parked truck, the right wing tip struck the rear corner of the truck. The aircraft subsequently ground-looped into the truck's left side.
Weather Conditions
Winds at an airport located 40 miles to the east of the accident site were reported from the north at 12 knots at the time of the accident.