N90TH

On September 28, 2007, at 1312 eastern daylight time, a Dassault Aviation Mystere Falcon 900, N90TH, collided with a steamroller while taxiing at Teterboro Airport, Teterboro, New Jersey. The airplane was substantially damaged. The two certificated airline transport pilots and five passengers were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the corporate flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by Sony Aviation Incorporated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The captain stated that while taxiing southbound on taxiway "Z," the flight crew felt a sudden "big thud/ jolt," and the airplane was brought to a full stop. He said that after checking the passengers, and the status of the airplane, he opened the main entry door and observed that there was damage to the left main wingtip due to a possible collision with a construction steamroller.

The steamroller driver stated that he, the wing walker, and other construction crewmembers stopped work to go to lunch. He said after returning from lunch he began to operate the steamroller without having a wing walker present. Shortly thereafter, the airplane struck the upper roller cage and he stopped the steamroller. The steamroller driver further stated that prior to the impact, he did not hear or see the airplane as it approached.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the left wingtip and aileron were separated from the wing assembly.