- Date
- January 15, 2006, 14:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place
- Anchorage, AK
- Injuries
- 5 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N460MCessna S-550
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- FAA-AL-ANC FSDO 03
- FAA report
- 20060115001619A
- Case key
- 63109
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A failure of the driver of a snowplow vehicle to maintain adequate visual lookout while maneuvering on an airport hangar ramp, which resulted in a collision with the accident airplane as it was being marshaled into parking.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
At the conclusion of a cross-country aeromedical flight conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 135, a twin-engine jet airplane was struck by a snowplow vehicle as the airplane was taxiing from landing. The airplane crew were taxiing onto the operator's hangar ramp, and were being directed by company ground personnel utilizing marshalling wands. A private snowplow vehicle was clearing an adjacent ramp area to the south of the operator's hangar apron. While maneuvering the plow truck, the driver began backing up and collided with the left wingtip of the accident airplane. The airplane received structural damage to the left wing and left aileron.
Factual narrative
On January 15, 2006, about 1450 Alaska Standard time, a Cessna S-550 airplane, N460M, sustained substantial damage when it was struck by a snowplow vehicle as the airplane was taxiing from landing at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport, Anchorage, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by Security Aviation Inc., Anchorage, Alaska, as an instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country aeromedical flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135. The captain and first officer, both airline transport certificated pilots, the two medical crewmembers, and the patient/passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the flight that originated at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska, about 1335.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on January 15, the assistant director of operations for the operator reported that the airplane crew were taxiing onto the operator's hangar ramp after landing. The airplane was being directed by company ground personnel utilizing marshalling wands. A private snowplow vehicle was clearing an adjacent ramp area to the south of the operator's hangar apron. While maneuvering the plow truck, the driver began backing up and collided with the left wingtip of the accident airplane. The airplane received structural damage to the left wing and left aileron.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N460M
- Reported as
- Cessna S-550
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- S550-0022
- Airframe hours
- 6,320
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney Canada JT-15D-4B, 2,500 lbs thrust, turbo jet
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Security Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Last inspection
- AAIP · December 1, 2005 · 47 hours before
- Departed
- PAFA · Fairbanks, AK
- Destination
- PANC · Anchorage, AK
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- PANC · Anchorage International
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2005
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 150 in this make and model · 14,000 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Co-pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2005
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 2,800 total · 395 in this make and model · 2,300 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 8,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 16 °F, dew point 12 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.67 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.