NTSB Factual Report

On March 13, 2002, at 1902 mountain standard time, a Cessna 402C twin-engine airplane, N596DM, was substantially damaged when it was struck by a baggage tug while taxiing at the Albuquerque International Sunport Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The aircraft was registered to the Distribution Management Corp., and was being operated by Aero Charter & Transport, both of Albuquerque. The airline transport pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, and the driver of the tug were not injured. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 cargo flight. The flight originated from Gallup, New Mexico, at 1821.

The pilot reported to the NTSB investigator-in-charge that after landing on runway 21, he exited the runway onto taxiway F1 (Foxtrot One). On the taxiway, he stopped the airplane, retracted the flaps, turned off the landing light, and contacted ground control for a clearance to taxi to parking. After receiving the clearance, he began taxiing on F1 to parking while following the yellow centerline with the taxi lights on. As the airplane neared an access road intersection, he observed a vehicle to his left stopped at the northbound stop sign. He did not see any traffic to his right at the southbound stop sign. As the airplane entered the intersection, he caught a flash of light to his right. A baggage tug, with only the right head light illuminated, struck the airplane's right wing. He continued taxiing out of the intersection and parked the airplane.

Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed that the outboard two feet of the airplane's right wing was separated, the underside of the right wing was rippled, and the right aileron was damaged.

NTSB Probable Cause

The failure of the tug driver to stop at the stop sign resulting in a collision with a taxiing airplane. A contributing factor was the dark night light conditions.