Incident Description
An airplane struck a snowplow while taxiing on an airport taxiway. The collision occurred as company personnel were simultaneously dispatching the aircraft and monitoring snow removal operations on the taxiways and runways. Two supervisors, each in separate vehicles equipped with VHF/FM radios, were overseeing the snow removal effort.
Collision Sequence
The pilot-in-command stated that his attention was directed toward snowbanks on the right side of the taxiway. He suddenly noticed the snowplow on the left side of the airplane. The pilot was unable to stop the aircraft before it contacted the snowplow. Postaccident examination determined that the aircraft was positioned on the taxiway centerline, while the snowplow was located on the left side of the taxiway.
Personnel Statements
The snowplow driver reported that he did not hear or see the airplane taxiing. He believed that aircraft were using a different runway and that he was authorized to conduct snow removal on the taxiway. The snow removal supervisors did not alert the driver to the airplane's movements.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the collision, visibility was one mile with light snow and fog.