Cessna Citation 680 Sovereign, Los Angeles, Nov. 11, 2008–According to the Board, the night-time collision between a NetJets Sovereign and a ground service vehicle was the result of the vehicle driver’s failure to maintain adequate clearance/distance from the taxiing airplane. According to the pilot, after landing at Los Angeles International Airport, the aircraft proceeded onto Taxiway Alpha 5 and was being guided by the marshaller to the FBO ramp when the aircraft’s left wing struck a service vehicle and rolled it over. The marshaller told investigators that he noted the approaching vehicle but “did not think he was going to keep going.”
The vehicle driver–who sustained minor injuries in the accident–told investigators that he did not see the aircraft’s taxi light illuminated. Surveillance video showed
the jet’s navigation, beacon, wing and taxi lights illuminated, up to the point the collision occurred. The twinjet sustained substantial damage in the accident.