Incident Overview

Date: Monday 26 November 1990
Aircraft Type: Learjet 25B
Owner/operator: Connie Kalitta Services Inc.
Registration Number: N5LL
Location: Chicago, IL – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Component Affected: Taxi Light SystemsTaxi Light Systems
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A TAXIING Twin Turbojet collided with an airline service truck at an intersection of a taxiway and service road during nighttime conditions. The truck approached the intersection slowly and did not notice the plane until entering the taxiway. The driver stopped, did not see the plane, and continued. The crew activated lights, beaconing, and navigation lights. The intersection was poorly lit. The driver’s view showed a brightly lit terminal, while the truck’s view was partially obscured by mirrors.A TAXIING Twin Turbojet collided with an airline service truck at an intersection of a taxiway and service road during nighttime conditions. The truck approached the intersection slowly and did not notice the plane until entering the taxiway. The driver stopped, did not see the plane, and continued. The crew activated lights, beaconing, and navigation lights. The intersection was poorly lit. The driver’s view showed a brightly lit terminal, while the truck’s view was partially obscured by mirrors.

Description

A TAXIING TWIN TURBOJET COLLIDED AT NIGHT WITH AN AIRLINE SERVICE TRUCK IN AN INTERSECTION OF A TAXIWAY AND SERVICE ROAD. WEATHER WAS CLEAR AND DRY. THE AIRCREW SAW THE TRUCK SLOW APPROACHING THE INTERSECTION AND DID NOT NOTICE IT AGAIN UNTIL IT ENTERED THE TAXIWAY. THE DRIVER STATED HE STOPPED, DID NOT SEE THE PLANE AND PROCEEDED. THE CREW STATED TAXI LIGHTS, ROTATING BECAONS AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS WERE ON. THE TAXIWAY AND INTERSECTION WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE BACKGROUND IN THE DRIVER’S VIEW TO THE APPROACHING AIRPLANE WAS A BRIGHTLY LIT TERMINAL. THE DRIVER’S VIEW FROM THE TRUCK CAB WAS PARTIALLY OBSTRUCTED BY EYE-LEVEL MIRRORS MOUNTED OUTBOARD ON EACH DOOR FOR A REAR VIEW PAST THE TRUCK’S CUSTOM BODY. Probable Cause: THE DRIVER’S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE COMPANY’S CONFIGURING THE TRUCK WITH MIRRORS WHICH OBSTRUCT FORWARD VISIBILITY.

Primary Cause

Inadequate visual lookout by the driver.Inadequate visual lookout by the driver.

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