Thread: B1900D hit by "Follow Me"

It was a damp day in Luanda and the B1900D was taxiing out. Next thing we were told to get it off the taxiway as it had been hit by a 'follow me" van.
When we got there the van was on its side and the pilots were beside the aircraft as the passengers were very quickly taken back to the terminal.
The van had been speeding across the taxiway and did not give way to the aircraft (normal situation there as we had a few of these type of accidents) and hit the nose. Fortunately the aircraft had seen him and stopped, but too late.
Two ton of fuel in the wing, two big gyros (engines), brakes hard on and hit on the nose. The aircraft was a write off due the expense of jigs and labour, plus just getting things into, let alone out of the country.
The fuselage had bent just forward of the LH wing and rippled the skin at the wing/fuse under belly.
It also bent the whole nose area forward of the pressure bulkhead and twisted the nose gear attach ring.

Originally Posted by Narangga

Were you able to buy back the engines etc.?

Yes we were able to buy it back, and to say it was stripped bare before going to the graveyard is an understatement. Kept us in parts for ages.