What happened
An aircraft used for aerial application landed and taxied to a parking area to undergo refueling and chemical loading. The pilot left the engine running throughout the process. During this time, a second aircraft landed and parked approximately 15 to 20 feet ahead of the first plane.
A ground refueler approached the first aircraft to perform fueling operations. The refueler first added fuel to the left wing tank and then moved to the right wing tank. After completing the refueling, the worker replaced the fuel cap and turned toward the aircraft. As the refueler walked forward, he was struck by the propeller.
The incident resulted in one fatality. The ground refueler had been employed with the company for approximately four days and had previously received training regarding safety and ground operations.