ACK Ground Controller reported an aircraft turned onto the roadway designated for vehicles during taxi and the aircraft's wing struck a perimeter fence. The reporter could not see the aircraft due to that area of the airport being in a blind spot from the Tower; and recommended cameras and better signage to be installed for visibility.

Date: 2024-08 · Aircraft: Small Aircraft · Phase: taxi

Anomalies: conflict-ground-conflict|critical|deviation-discrepancy-procedural-published-material-policy|ground-event-encounter-object|ground-event-encounter-ground-equipment-issue

Synopsis

ACK Ground Controller reported an aircraft turned onto the roadway designated for vehicles during taxi and the aircraft's wing struck a perimeter fence. The reporter could not see the aircraft due to that area of the airport being in a blind spot from the Tower; and recommended cameras and better signage to be installed for visibility.

Narrative

I was working Ground Control; Aircraft X was relocating from the Main Ramp to the Loading Ramp. Aircraft X was holding short of Runway 15 and it appeared there would be a several minute delay due to needing to coordinate the runway crossing and due to the airborne traffic.I asked Aircraft X if they were familiar with using the non-movement area commonly referred to as 'the back way.' They stated they were not familiar and I instructed them to turn left on Taxiway H and I would give them progressive instructions in the non-movement area. Aircraft X turned onto a roadway designed for vehicles and struck their wing on a perimeter fence. The signage for the vehicle road was unclear that it was for vehicles only. Additionally; I was unable to see the aircraft due to a blind spot from the Tower.Better signage needs to be installed on the North Ramp; especially on areas designed for the use of vehicles only. Additionally raising the Tower or providing surveillance cameras for the blind spot could have alleviated the incident.

Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.