The pilot of the twin-engine airplane reported that, while on a visual approach for landing to the airport in Ingleside, Texas, he transmitted the appropriate radio calls and noted that all the Beech 58’s lights were illuminated.
He added that the airplane touched down about 400′ down the runway. That’s when he noticed a truck approaching the runway from the south.
The pilot saw the truck hesitate and then cross the runway towing a large trailer with a tractor loaded on the back. The pilot swerved the airplane to the left to avoid hitting the trailer, but the right wing hit the trailer. The airplane was destroyed by a post-impact fire.
After the collision, the truck driver apologized to the pilot, saying that he thought he could “beat” the airplane across the runway.
The truck driver reported that he looked both ways down the runway and did not observe any aircraft. He added that, while he was crossing, he saw an airplane. He accelerated the truck, but the airplane hit the end of the trailer.
The airport manager reported that the truck driver was not one of the airport’s employees but had volunteered, without compensation, to cut and bale hay at the far corner of the airport.
He added that all weather station or other repair technicians are escorted to their location by airport staff. He also reported that this was the first time that he had allowed the truck driver to cut hay on the airfield and that he had thoroughly briefed the driver to stay 50′ away from the runway.
The driver reported to the airport manager that he took the quicker and drier route instead of taking the longer and safer route because he was concerned with getting his truck and trailer stuck in an area that was known to be more saturated after the previous night’s precipitation.
In an effort to improve safety, the Precinct 4 Commissioner created a standard operating procedure that encompassed operating procedures, training curriculum, and a training manual that was derived from Advisory Circular 150/5210-20 Change 1.
Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to avoid a collision with an unauthorized vehicle on the runway during the landing roll and the truck driver’s decision to cross the runway in front of the airplane.
NTSB Identification: GAA17CA365
This June 2017 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
It could have been worse. Thank God no fatalities were recorded. I always clear the runway on Final to make sure no one authorized or not decides to cross.
Could have been worse. I don’t think you can get much more stupid!
No question the managemet at the airport is to blame for allowing this activity without supervision. A lawsuit will go far to correct the problem. The guy driving the truck and the airport should pay a ton of hay on this one.
Brilliant thinking! Bring in the lawyers, maybe they will end up with shiny new BMW,s and we will end up with another closed airport. Let the insurance company work it out, that’s what we pay them for.
These articles are intended to be educational tools so that those of us not involved will think and learn something.
My takeaway would be to always have a responsible person with a handheld radio escort someone who his not familiar with airports protocol. That is what we do at my home airport. This article certainly reinforces that line of thinking.
why can’t people just follow directions, nobody expected the truck driver to be clever, just do as he was told…very fortunate nobody was killed
This story reflects an unsafe airport and a complaint to the FAA office needs to be made. Such unconcern for the safety of pilots passengers and those on the ground.
In a case of 20/20 hindsight they did adopt a more stringent requirement for training and tighter procedures. It is not a towered airport or an airport with scheduled passenger service so there is not much the can FAA do or would want to do and I am sure they already know all about it.