Incident Description
A commuter airplane was parked at a gate with 50 passengers seated and a crew of three on board. The engines were stopped, wheel chocks were in place, and the pilots were seated in the cockpit completing paperwork. The airstair door was open.
Sequence of Events
A baggage tractor (designated DH4) had broken down. Its operator requested assistance from another baggage tractor operator (DH65) to push the disabled vehicle to the end of the ramp to await service. DH65 began pushing DH4, which steered to pass approximately 15 to 20 feet to the left of the parked airplane.
As DH4 entered the service road, it began a right turn to head west. At that moment, DH65 had not yet entered the service road and continued traveling in a southwesterly direction for an additional few feet. The left side of DH65's front hitch then came into contact with the right side of DH4's rear hitch.
Collision with Aircraft
The hitch contact jerked the front of DH65 to the right, causing the driver to be pitched halfway off the left side of DH65. As the driver fell, his hand pulled down on the steering wheel and his foot pressed down on the accelerator pedal. DH65 then veered into the nose of the airplane.
The report does not specify the extent of damage to the aircraft or any injuries to personnel.