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GAA16CA051

2015-11-16 · Portland, Oregon, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport PDX

N555RG has since been reassigned. It is now registered to a different aircraft (DEHAVILLAND BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1, built 1954), which was not involved in this event.

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The failure of the fuel truck driver to see and avoid the taxiing airplane.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that after landing during dark rainy night conditions, he exited the runway on taxiway echo and contacted ground. Ground instructed the pilot to taxi via Echo and Echo 4 to the ramp. The pilot further reported that he proceeded to taxi south on Echo and made a left turn onto Echo 4. On Echo 4 the airplane's left wing was struck by a fuel truck. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to the local Police Department report, the fuel truck driver reported that he was driving on the south perimeter road, and came to a stop at the stop sign for about 15 seconds. The driver continued to cross the intersection at about 5 miles per hour, and drove into the airplane. The fuel truck driver further reported that he did not see the airplane. The pilot reported that after landing during dark rainy night conditions, he exited the runway on taxiway E and contacted the ground controller. The controller instructed the pilot to taxi via E and E4 to the ramp. The pilot further reported that he proceeded to taxi south on E and made a left turn onto E4. On E4 the airplane's left wing was struck by a fuel truck. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to the local Police Department report, the fuel truck driver reported that he was driving on the south perimeter road and came to a stop at the stop sign for about 15 seconds. The driver continued to cross the intersection at about 5 miles per hour, and drove into the airplane. The fuel truck driver reported that he did not see the airplane. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring other aircraft-Flight service personnel - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2015_GAA16CA051.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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