Incident Overview
On April 8, 2010, at approximately 1845 Pacific daylight time, a Grumman American Avn. Corp. G-1159, registration N706TJ, collided with a fuel truck while taxiing at Boeing Field/King County International Airport (BFI), Seattle, Washington. The airplane, operated by Jetstar Air, Inc., was conducting a personal transportation flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Occupants and Injuries
The flight crew included airline transport rated pilots, a cabin attendant, and three passengers. None of the occupants aboard the aircraft were injured. The fuel truck driver was transported to a hospital with minor injuries.
Aircraft Damage
The collision resulted in structural damage to the airplane's left wing.
Flight Details
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the cross-country flight, which was destined for Van Nuys Airport (VNY), Van Nuys, California. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed.
Pilot Actions
According to the pilot, after clearing U.S. customs and refueling the airplane, he requested and received permission to taxi from the main terminal to runway 13R. He proceeded to taxiway “A” to prepare for takeoff but overshot the turn. Air traffic control tower personnel then cleared him to perform a turn around, and the pilot initiated a right 270-degree turn. As the airplane's nose crossed the taxiway centerline, he made a shallow left turn into the run-up area. The pilot stated that he lost sight of the moving fuel truck, and shortly thereafter, the left wing tip impacted the front of the fuel truck.