Incident Overview
An accident occurred during a pushback operation when an aircraft collided with a catering truck. The engineer responsible for the pushback performed some checks before signaling the start, but did not visually confirm that the catering truck was clear of the aircraft. The engineer assumed the truck was clear based on an incorrect expectation that the time for the truck to move away would be similar to the short time taken by a baggage belt loader. Additionally, the catering truck was not usually the last piece of equipment to move clear.
Visibility and Obstruction Factors
Several physical factors prevented the engineer from seeing the catering truck. The engineer did not have his wet weather gear and, due to rain, decided to sit in the tug's cabin during the pushback. From this seated position, the engineer's view of the truck was largely obstructed by the aircraft's wing and a panel door. These obstructions were white, the same color as the truck, and blended with the small, unobstructed parts of the truck. These parts further blended into white hangars in the background. The truck's lighting and reflective strips were not in view. Dark and rainy conditions, with lights reflecting off the wet tarmac, also made it difficult to see the truck.
Collision Event
By the time the engineer saw the catering truck a few seconds after pushback started, it was too late to stop safely. Emergency action was taken, but the towbar failed, and the aircraft rolled back and collided with the truck. Other than the truck's marshaller, no one else was in a position or had the opportunity to identify the conflict.
Contributing Circumstances
The engineer's decision to remain in the tug's cabin, coupled with the color similarities between the truck and surrounding objects, and the adverse weather conditions, all hindered the visual confirmation that the catering truck was clear. The assumption that the truck would move quickly, based on the behavior of a different type of ground equipment, also played a role.