Mower Operator Killed Near Runway

[GeeBee]

Not sure if it was NOTAM'd (unlikely) but it sure seems like an easy accident to happen

https://www.foxnews.com/us/oklahoma-woman-riding-lawn-mower-struck-killed-small-airplane-wing

[N201MKTurbo]

I have no knowledge of this incident beyond what was in the news story, but I wonder if she was wearing earbuds and listening to music or something that isolated her from the outside world? Granted a lawn mower makes a lot of noise as it is and a landing plane is fairly quiet, so hearing the plane is difficult anyway.

You would think someone mowing the grass at an airport would be familiar with airport operations and would know which runway is in use and would keep an eye out for aircraft. 

I'm infuriated that the news reports that they are trying to charge the pilot for the fatality! The pilot didn't do anything wrong. It is totally on the airport operations for not training their personnel properly and the woman mowing the grass for not knowing what's going on around her. 

Regulations are written in blood, maybe we need another that mandates training to operate ground vehicles near an active runway.

[Shadrach]

Runway width 50’ 

centerline to grass 25’ 

A36 wingspan 33.6’

Aircraft centerline to wingtip 16.8’

He had to be more than 8 feet off centerline to have a wing over the grass. That’s not a lot, but it’s not the kind of thing I would call “good enough” in my own flying. That would put a wheel in the grass or in the lights at some of the runways I’ve used. How close was she to the runway?
It seems likely to me that both pilot and mower operator were lacking in situational awareness. I can almost guarantee that a 26 yr old on a mower was wearing earbuds, but it doesn’t really matter.  Anyone with any sense would be wearing ear protection. You’re not going to hear a Bonanza at approach power over a mower when wearing ear protection. Operating near a runway requires traffic awareness. During my college years I spent winter and summer semester breaks conducting plow and maintenance ops at a small but busy country airport. Traffic was my primary focus when working around the runway. Airplanes and ground vehicles can easily maintain separation when it’s a priority. If she was wearing high visibility clothing, he should have seen her on approach.

 

[N201MKTurbo]

Yes, I was thinking about the runway width. It would be good to have more information about exactly where the mower was when it was hit. 

[Hank]

I've mowed beside the runway, and trained others to do so. When I rode the tractor, I had my headset on and plugged into my handheld radio, and I drove at least twice [with a 5' drag-behind PTO finish mower] on each side facing the expected landing direction based on wind if there was any, or facing into the preferred runway, so that I could see anyone coming.

Training new people, I took them beside the runway and had them stand with their back to landing traffic, while I was on the radio and watched the plane and the trainee's face. No one ever heard a landing plane in the flare until after it had passed them. The runway was 75' wide, and we were 5-6' into the grass, but the new trainees always looked surprised and jumped. It was very effective in making them careful along the runway.

This accident is tragic, but there is certainly no cause to charge the pilot with any criminal offenses. My questions:

• was there a NOTAM for mowing activity?
• was this young woman mowing, or just riding the mower around [joy ride; moving it to another location; etc.]?
• what training did she receive before heading out along the runway?
• was she riding / mowing in the landing direction [i.e., hit from behind], or was she mowing towards the landing traffic so she could see it coming?

Seen from the air, even our big Ford tractor and finish mower was not easy to spot, much less a small riding lawn mower [which we only used around the FBO building, because the big tractor would mess up the ground].

[Fly Boomer]

6 hours ago, Shadrach said:

He had to be more than 8 feet off centerline to have a wing over the grass. That’s not a lot, but it’s not the kind of thing I would call “good enough” in my own flying. That would put a wheel in the grass or in the lights at some of the runways I’ve used. How close was she to the runway?

How did you determine that she was not on the runway?  When I mow the grass, I just drive back and forth across my sidewalk.  Seems equally likely she drove onto the runway while he was rolling out.

[Shadrach]

17 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

How did you determine that she was not on the runway?  When I mow the grass, I just drive back and forth across my sidewalk.  Seems equally likely she drove onto the runway while he was rolling out.

I took the first sentence of the article at face value:

 “was killed Friday after she was struck in the head by the wing of a small airplane while she was on a riding lawn mower next to an airport runway.”

[Shadrach]

Airport is owned by the city of Broken Bow. Deceased was employed by the city’s parks dept. Reads like she was on the job and likely conducting legitimate mowing operations. Looks like she was in the right place but at the wrong time and facing the wrong direction. Bad day to be sloppy on centerline discipline and situational awareness.
 

“She had been employed by the city of Broken Bow’s Parks Division, a police official told The Post.”

[MooneyMitch]

So very, very tragic and sad for her small children and family left behind.  I cannot imagine the grief the pilot is feeling.

[DXB]

The second article linked sounds like he tried to take off to avoid her, making me think he was very early in the roll out after landing when he spotted her.  She may have obliviously started crossing the runway right as he was touching down, and it's hard to blame him if that's the case, but who knows for sure from the limited info.  

[A64Pilot]

Even at our grass strip where of course the runway itself is mowed the mower has a rather large / bright flashing yellow light on a pole.

My strip is hilly so you can’t see one end from the other and I’ve always worried about it, but so far the bright flashing light on top of a pole is seen first in time to do something to avoid it.

I’d bet lunch that this poor girl had no class or informal training and had no high visibility clothing or flashing lights.

Isn’t it an FAA regulation for vehicles on or near a runway to have flashing lights? 

If blame must be assessed my bet it’s whoever put her on that mower, assuming of course it wasn’t lit and she wasn’t wearing a vest and radio equipped 

[Shadrach]

On 10/4/2023 at 6:34 PM, A64Pilot said:

Even at our grass strip where of course the runway itself is mowed the mower has a rather large / bright flashing yellow light on a pole.

My strip is hilly so you can’t see one end from the other and I’ve always worried about it, but so far the bright flashing light on top of a pole is seen first in time to do something to avoid it.

I’d bet lunch that this poor girl had no class or informal training and had no high visibility clothing or flashing lights.

Isn’t it an FAA regulation for vehicles on or near a runway to have flashing lights? 

If blame must be assessed my bet it’s whoever put her on that mower, assuming of course it wasn’t lit and she wasn’t wearing a vest and radio equipped 

It appears that the city put her on that mower. Most county airports use full sized tractors with a full cab and lights, but I have seen formations of high speed, zero turn mowers pushed into service as well. So much is unknown. I would think if she entered the runway environment, the pilot would ensure that that fact was clear. I know I would. I am sure he is devastated. Judging from the city’s website, it’s a flat, 3200’x50’ paved strip in excellent condition. I want to believe there is more to this story. RIP.