Incident Overview
On February 21, 2009, at approximately 1112 mountain standard time, an Embraer EMB-120ER, registration N270YV, collided with an occupied stationary fuel truck while taxiing at Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Salt Lake City, Utah. The aircraft, operated by SkyWest Airlines Inc. under 14 CFR Part 121, was on a maintenance reposition flight from Elko, Nevada, to SLC. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed.
Sequence of Events
After landing on runway 16R, the flight crew received clearance to taxi to spot 23. Upon reaching that spot, they contacted ramp control and were cleared to taxi to spot 2 (Gate Echo 2 Alpha). While taxiing along the taxiway centerline, the flight crew observed a parked fuel truck ahead and to the right, located within a non-movement area. The captain positioned the airplane approximately four feet left of the taxiway centerline in an attempt to avoid the truck. The first officer monitored the clearance between the right wing and the fuel truck. Subsequently, the right wingtip struck the fuel truck across from gate Echo 32. After the collision, the flight crew immediately stopped the airplane and shut down both engines. The first officer reported difficulty judging the distance between the right wing and the truck due to sun glare on both surfaces.
Occupants and Injuries
Neither the airline transport rated captain, commercial rated first officer, flight attendant, nor mechanic aboard the airplane were injured. The occupant of the fuel truck was also uninjured.
Damage
Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed minor damage to the right wingtip of the aircraft. The fuel truck exhibited a dent and scuffing along the mid-span of its fuel tank.