# NTSB GAA15CA043: Short Bros SD 360-300, N688AN, Greer, SC, April 16, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 15, 2015, 23:00 local (Apr 16, 2015, 03:00 UTC)
- Place: Greer, SC
- Coordinates: 34.890556, -82.217781
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8906&lon=-82.2178&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) not oper: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 8, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA SC FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91043
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91043/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91043
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA043

## Probable cause

The fuel truck driver's inattention, which resulted in backing over a warning cone and into the horizontal stabilizer of the airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Short Bros SD-360-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md?model=8100610), [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md)
- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Short Bros SD-360-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=8100610), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Short Bros SD-360-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=8100610), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Ground crew; cases with it: [Short Bros SD-360-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=8100610), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Standing-engine(s) not oper: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Short Bros SD-360-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=8100610), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The airplane was standing at the terminal while cargo was being loaded and the co-pilot was onboard preparing for flight. The captain, outside the airplane, directed the fuel truck driver to drive around to the right side of the airplane and prepare to fuel the airplane. The captain had intended to direct the truck after preparing the fuel service panel, but turned around to see the truck back over an orange marker cone and into the airplane's horizontal stabilizer. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

## Factual narrative

The airplane was standing at the terminal while cargo was being loaded and the co-pilot was onboard preparing for flight. the Captain, outside the airplane, directed the fuel truck driver to drive around to the right side of the airplane and prepare to fuel the airplane. The captain had intended to direct the truck after preparing the fuel service panel, but turned around to see the truck back over an orange marker cone and into the airplane's horizontal stabilizer. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N688AN](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N688AN), registered now, S/N SH3633, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SHORT BROS SD 360-300 (VARIANT300)
- Registry model: [Short Bros SD-360-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/short-bros-sd-360-300) (registry code 8100610) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AR](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ar) (registry code 52277, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: SH3633
- Year built: 1984
- Airframe hours: 36672
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AR 1520 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AR 1520 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Cargo Carriers, doing business as Air Cargo Carriers
- Registered owner: Acc Integrated Services Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 7, 2015
- Airport: GSP, Greenville Spartanburg Intl
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 2, 2014; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 4,304 total, 834 in this make and model, 479 as pilot in command, 149 in the last 90 days, 59 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Co-pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2015; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 1,517 total, 661 in this make and model, 856 as pilot in command, 146 in the last 90 days, 52 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 30° at 14 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KGSP

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20150415004409I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150415004409I), Apr 15, 2015: Short Bros SD-360-300, Greenville, SC, Minor damage. On April 5, 2015 a stevens aviation, inc. fuel truck backed in to N688AN while pilot was on board.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 24, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91043. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432137&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Fuel Truck and Aircraft Horizontal (Courtesy of Operator) (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432139&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Fuel%20Truck%20and%20Aircraft%20Horizontal%20(Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Horizontal Stabilizer (Photo Courtesy of Operator) (item 3, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432138&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Horizontal%20Stabilizer%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Operator)-Master.PDF

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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