Northern Kentucky Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Covington, Kentucky 41048
Tuesady, January 8, 2002 5:26 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was taxiing an airplane across an open lighted ramp area at night. He observed a tug closing from his left side and when the tug did not give way to the airplane, he initiated braking. The tug struck the airplane on the nose, inflicting substantial damage. The tug driver reported that he did not observe the airplane in time to prevent the collision. No obstructions to visibility were present for the pilot or tug driver. Airport rules required vehicles to yield the right-of-way to airplanes.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the tug driver's inadequate visual lookout which resulted in his failure to see the airplane in time to prevent the collision.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/8/2002
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 526
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Covington
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 41048
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 390309N
Event Location Longitude 0843906W
Event Location Airport Northern Kentucky Intl
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CVG
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 897
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 551 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 190
Weather Observation Facility ID CVG
Elevation of weather observation facility 897
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13110
NTSB Notification Source Ameriflight
NTSB Notification Date Jan 8 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 650
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 1 2003 7:34AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Louisville, Kentucky

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N556UP
NTSB Number NYC02LA047
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name SWEARINGEN
Aircraft Model SA-227-AT
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AT-556
Certified Max Gross Weight 14500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Nov 7 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 123
Airframe Hours 14650
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ameriflight Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4700 West Empire Ave.
Aircraft Owner City Burbank
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91505
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code JIKA
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) --
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CVG
Departure City Covington
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code BHM
Destination City Birmingham
Destination State AL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - to takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Nov 17 2009 5:03PM
User who most recently changed record grol
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --