Incident Description
According to witnesses, the tug was parked behind the left wing of the airplane, facing the opposite direction, with its engine running. The airplane's engines were not running. When the tug operator jumped onto the tug, he lost his footing and slipped. As he grabbed for something to catch his balance, his right arm hit the tug's gearshift lever. The tug then started moving forward in a right turn. During this maneuver, the tug operator's left foot became caught between the tug's frame and the left rear tire. The tug circled around the left wing tip of the airplane and struck the left engine nacelle.
Injuries and Damage
The tug operator's foot became wedged between the tug and the airplane's stairs, resulting in a sprained left ankle and a few minor lacerations. The airplane sustained minor damage to the left engine nacelle and one propeller blade.
Training Records
According to the FAA, the tug operator's training records did not reflect his qualifications to operate ground equipment, including the gas-powered Kubota tug involved in this incident.