Event ANC06LA016

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. 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. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12