CHI99LA302

The pilot was taxiing for departure when the airplane's left wingtip collided with the right rear end of a fuel truck. The truck was parked on the edge of the ramp next to the fixed base operator's building. The ramp extends about 250 feet north of where the fuel truck was parked. The pilot said he '...did not recall what had diverted his attention...I suspect I had my head inside the cockpit fiddling with the radio.'

On August 14, 1999, at 1415 central daylight time, a Cessna 150K, N6001G, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with a fuel truck that was parked along the edge of the aircraft ramp (dry asphalt) at the Kenosha Municipal Airport, Kenosha, Wisconsin, while taxiing to the active runway for departure. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported, "I proceeded to taxi at [the] normal taxi speed (engine at 1,000 RPM) and shortly thereafter my left wingtip impacted the right rear end of the fuel truck... . The impact caused my plane to swivel around to the left, straight for the passenger door of the truck, at which time the prop immediately stopped." The pilot said he did not recall what had diverted his attention. He said, "...I suspect I had my head inside the cockpit fiddling with the radio."

According to the pilot's drawing, the fuel truck was sitting on the aircraft parking ramp next to the fixed base operations northeast corner. The ramp extends north about 250 feet from the ramp edge where the truck was parked. The truck was facing northwest and N6001G was taxiing northwest at the time it collided with the truck.

Under the "Operator/Owner Safety Recommendation" section of National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1/2 the pilot wrote: "Easy to prevent-Pilot should at all times, when taxiing have his head outside the cockpit-on a constant swivel. He should not be changing frequencies on a radio. No matter how well you know the airport, if you're not looking where you're going-it's an invitation to disaster!"