On July 11, 2006, a Piper PA-31-350 (registration N40978) was involved in an aviation accident near Indianapolis, IN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the tug driver to maintain clearance from the airplane taxiing on an active taxiway. A factor was the night conditions. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A tug towing five carts struck a twin-engine airplane taxiing on an active taxiway at night. The pilot saw no lights on the tug, and the tug driver reported not seeing the airplane's lights.
Incident Sequence
A tug used to move ground carts collided with the left side of a twin-engine airplane while the airplane was taxiing on an active taxiway at night. Air traffic control (ATC) had cleared the airplane to taxi to the active runway via Delta taxiway. The collision occurred at the intersection of Delta taxiway and a service road. At the time of the collision, the tug was pulling five carts and traveling from left to right through the intersection.
Pilot and Tug Driver Reports
The pilot reported that after the collision, he saw a ground vehicle under the left engine and initially thought it was an abandoned vehicle because he did not see any lights on the vehicle. The pilot notified ATC regarding the collision and subsequently shut down the airplane. The tug driver reported that he stopped before entering the intersection and did not see any of the airplane's lights.
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 11 Jul 2006 Piper PA-31-350 accident near Indianapolis, IN?
A tug towing five carts struck a twin-engine airplane taxiing on an active taxiway at night. The pilot saw no lights on the tug, and the tug driver reported not seeing the airplane's lights.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 11 Jul 2006 involved a Piper PA-31-350, registration N40978, at Indianapolis, IN.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The failure of the tug driver to maintain clearance from the airplane taxiing on an active taxiway. A factor was the night conditions.
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