During pushback an MD80 wingtip was slightly damaged when it struck a stationary fuel truck.

Attributes
ACN	672525
Time
Date	200509
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : sea.airport
State Reference	WA
Altitude	agl single value : 0
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	ground : pushback
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 170 flight time type : 13200
ASRS Report	672525
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	conflict : ground critical ground encounters : vehicle ground encounters other non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : published procedure non adherence : far non adherence : company policies
Independent Detector	other other : 6
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	other other
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Airport Flight Crew Human Performance Company Environmental Factor
Primary Problem	Company

Narrative:

On pushback from gate; ground crew stopped aircraft; saying they could not get around fuel truck. They pulled forward a few ft; then resumed push (initial push was slightly left (north) of taxi-in line). Flight attendant called and stated that a passenger noticed that the left wing had contacted the fuel truck. Tug driver initially denied that the wing had contacted the truck; but I asked him to personally confirm the status of the wing. Upon returning to the headset; he stated that the wing looked ok; but the left wingtip/strobe light lens was cracked. Maintenance confirmed damage; and after moving fuel truck; taxied back to gate for maintenance inspection. Wing walkers need to be better trained/more observant.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DURING PUSHBACK AN MD80 WINGTIP WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED WHEN IT STRUCK A STATIONARY FUEL TRUCK.

Narrative: ON PUSHBACK FROM GATE; GND CREW STOPPED ACFT; SAYING THEY COULD NOT GET AROUND FUEL TRUCK. THEY PULLED FORWARD A FEW FT; THEN RESUMED PUSH (INITIAL PUSH WAS SLIGHTLY L (N) OF TAXI-IN LINE). FLT ATTENDANT CALLED AND STATED THAT A PAX NOTICED THAT THE L WING HAD CONTACTED THE FUEL TRUCK. TUG DRIVER INITIALLY DENIED THAT THE WING HAD CONTACTED THE TRUCK; BUT I ASKED HIM TO PERSONALLY CONFIRM THE STATUS OF THE WING. UPON RETURNING TO THE HEADSET; HE STATED THAT THE WING LOOKED OK; BUT THE L WINGTIP/STROBE LIGHT LENS WAS CRACKED. MAINT CONFIRMED DAMAGE; AND AFTER MOVING FUEL TRUCK; TAXIED BACK TO GATE FOR MAINT INSPECTION. WING WALKERS NEED TO BE BETTER TRAINED/MORE OBSERVANT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.