SEA97IA040

On December 20, 1996, about 2045 Pacific standard time, N941AS, a McDonnell Douglas MD-80 airplane, operating as Alaska Airlines Flight 255, collided with a fuel truck while attempting to taxi to the gate in Seattle, Washington, and received minor damage. An instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed in Seattle at the time. There were no injuries to the two flight crew members, three cabin attendants, 139 passengers, or any ground personnel. The scheduled air carrier flight, operating under 14 CFR 121, had departed from Los Angeles, California, and was destined for Seattle.

An examination of the airplane revealed that the skin of the no. 5 leading edge slat, located near the tip of the left wing, was crushed aft and torn. An examination of the fuel truck revealed a small dent on the upper corner of the aft portion of the tank.

According to written statements provided by Alaska Airlines ground personnel, the fuel truck was parked in the safety area of the adjacent gate to refuel another airplane. The aft portion of the truck was protruding into the safety area, designated by faded cross-hatched paint lines. The safety area is supposed to be an area that is to remain clear of any vehicles.

A wing walker for the left wing was positioned several feet in front of the left wing tip, with the fuel truck parked in between the wing walker and the left wing of the taxiing airplane. The wing walker stated that he gave the signal to the marshaler to brake upon noticing the left wing tip navigation light "disappear behind the fuel truck." The airplane continued to move forward into the fuel truck as the brakes were applied, and the leading edge of the left wing struck the aft portion of the fuel truck.

The wing walker also stated that the airplane taxied into the gate while its nose gear was off the centerline of the painted lead-in "J-line." The Safety Board inspected the J-line paint, as well as the paint markings used for the designated safety area; the markings appeared faded and were more difficult to discern in dark night, rain-soaked, artificially-lighted conditions than in dry, daylight conditions.

Further investigation by the Safety Board revealed that the fuel truck had been previously struck by an Alaska Airlines MD-80 at the same gate, designated as "D-1", on January 5, 1996.

Gate D-1 is the first in a linear series of gates utilized by Alaska Airlines. Because it is the first gate along the airline's designated corridor, it is surrounded on two sides of the airport terminal building structure, and on a third side by another gate, designated as gate D-2. The fourth, or "open" side is the only open area for an aircraft to enter the gate area. Because of the geometry of gate D-2 and the building structure, the J-lines, safety area lines, jetway, and ground equipment lines for gate D-1 are laid out at obtuse angles.