What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On may 8, 2026, a flight crew of two pilots were operating a DC-3-TP aircraft for a part 135 cargo flight from the north cargo ramp at anc. While taxiing on taxiway seaira, the right wing collided with a ground tug positioned on the taxiway causing substantial damage to the right wing lower skin and aileron. While beginning the taxi from the north cargo ramp on to taxiway sierra, the PIC who was the pilot-flying and positioned in the left seat requested the SIC to clear the right side of the aircraft to which the SIC stated "clear right". The PIC then requested the SIC obtain IFR clearance from ATC. The collision occurred while the SIC was gathering the requested information. The SIC stated to investigators that he saw the tug but thought the PIC saw it too and therefore did not mention it when he responded that the aircraft was clear. The PIC stated he could not see the area to the right side of the aircraft due to the structure of the DC-3 and the nose-high attitude of the aircraft during ground operation and therefore, did not see the tug sitting to the right side of the aircraft. After the collision, the PIC stopped the aircraft and shut down the engines.
As the FAA filed it
ON MAY 8, 2026, A FLIGHT CREW OF TWO PILOTS WERE OPERATING A DC-3-TP AIRCRAFT FOR A PART 135 CARGO FLIGHT FROM THE NORTH CARGO RAMP AT ANC. WHILE TAXIING ON TAXIWAY SEAIRA, THE RIGHT WING COLLIDED WITH A GROUND TUG POSITIONED ON THE TAXIWAY CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING LOWER SKIN AND AILERON. WHILE BEGINNING THE TAXI FROM THE NORTH CARGO RAMP ON TO TAXIWAY SIERRA, THE PIC WHO WAS THE PILOT-FLYING AND POSITIONED IN THE LEFT SEAT REQUESTED THE SIC TO CLEAR THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO WHICH THE SIC STATED "CLEAR RIGHT". THE PIC THEN REQUESTED THE SIC OBTAIN IFR CLEARANCE FROM ATC. THE COLLISION OCCURRED WHILE THE SIC WAS GATHERING THE REQUESTED INFORMATION. THE SIC STATED TO INVESTIGATORS THAT HE SAW THE TUG BUT THOUGHT THE PIC SAW IT TOO AND THEREFORE DID NOT MENTION IT WHEN HE RESPONDED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLEAR. THE PIC STATED HE COULD NOT SEE THE AREA TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT DUE TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE DC-3 AND THE NOSE-HIGH ATTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT DURING GROUND OPERATION AND THEREFORE, DID NOT SEE THE TUG SITTING TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE PIC STOPPED THE AIRCRAFT AND SHUT DOWN THE ENGINES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.