On October 21, 1992, a Mcdonnell Douglas DC-9-32 (registration XAAMF) operated by Aerovia DE Mexico was involved in an aviation accident near Houston, TX. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The motor grader operator's failure to stop before entering the ramp area and not being in a vehicle lane, compounded by reduced visibility due to fog. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A motor grader operator failed to stop before entering the ramp area, colliding with a taxiing airplane in foggy conditions and lodging under the left wing.
What happened
The aircraft had been pushed back from the gate and was proceeding along the taxi line toward its assigned taxiway when it collided with a motor grader. The operator of the ground vehicle did not stop prior to entering the ramp area and was not positioned in a designated vehicle lane at the time of the impact. The collision caused the motor grader to strike the aircraft and lodge on its side beneath the left wing. Visibility at the airport was reduced due to fog during the incident.
Findings
Contributing factors included the motor grader operator's failure to stop before entering the ramp area and the lack of visibility due to foggy conditions.
Probable cause
The motor grader operator's failure to stop before entering the ramp area and not being in a vehicle lane, compounded by reduced visibility due to fog.