Things that Go Bump in the Night

Mix low visibility, light rain and the dark of an early November morning with an aircraft coming from an unexpected direction and a tug driver rushing to get some late bags to Delta, and what do you get?  The perfect combination for the accident that in fact happened to a Pinnacle Aircraft and a Delta tug driver at Detroit Metro Wayne Airport this past November. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries, although the aircraft sustained substantial damage. While the tug driver was thrown from the aircraft, he was very lucky to suffer only minor issues. The NTSB recently released its Preliminary Report which contains a synopsis of factual information regarding the flight.  Interestingly, while the pilot reported his taxi lights on, the tug operator did not see them. Whether the taxi lights were on or not, all the lights should have been on under these conditions. The aircraft should have been lit up like a Christmas tree. In addition, knowing the poor visibility that night, the tug operator should have been extra vigilant to the sounds of aircraft. While he reports hearing the aircraft’s engine, he apparently did not stop until it was too late. No probable cause findings are contained in the report, but there are a number of red flags that might have prevented this accident and that we can all learn from. It’s not important for our purposes to know who was at fault here. The lesson is that airports are dangerous places and require constant vigilance to stay safe. Poor visibility and rushing are recipes for disaster.