Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Flight Crew Private
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 5; Flight Crew Total 1050; Flight Crew Type 200
Communication Breakdown; Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical; Ground Incursion Runway
Flight Crew Rejected Takeoff
Human Factors; Procedure
I was departing runway 29 as the winds were favoring that runway. I had been doing pattern work for about 30 minutes prior and stopped for about 15 minutes to pick up another passenger. At the time of this departure I was the only aircraft in the pattern. No one else was on the VHF radio. This airport has [intersecting] runways. There is a parallel taxiway on the Southeast side of the [intersecting] runway that runs the entire length of that runway. At the hold short line for 29 I visually verified there was no one on final approach. I made a standard CTAF call that I was taking active runway 29 for departure and staying in the pattern. Approximately 500 feet into the roll I noticed the airport fuel truck was moving northeast on the parallel taxiway. I had not yet reached rotation speed when I saw the fuel truck pass the hold short line for runway 29. I immediately reduced power to idle and braked with maximum effort. While braking I called out on the VHF that there was an aircraft departing runway 29. The truck appeared to finally see me as it appeared to accelerate at the midpoint of the runway in an attempt to clear my aircraft. I stopped at least 100 feet from the intersection of the taxiway and runway 29. I had adequate clearance since I pulled the throttle and braked hard as soon as he crossed the hold short line. Had I not been scanning for conflicts or 'took a chance' that he would eventually stop I believe I would have hit the truck. I braked hard because when he crossed I thought I might not have enough time to stop. As it was I had enough room to get safely stopped because I initiated the aborted takeoff early enough. I taxied back to runway 29 and had an uneventful; pleasant flight. Upon returning I went to the FBO and spoke to the truck driver. He was very apologetic. He said he never saw the aircraft until he was already on the runway. He had forgotten his handheld VHF at the FBO so he didn't hear the radio calls. I told him that it would be wise that he treat runway intersections as stop signs and come to a complete stop to look both ways and listen. I asked him to not be upset about the event but learn from it. This airport has a policy that any vehicle that crosses the runways must have a flashing beacon and a VHF radio. There are adequate policies in place yet enforcement may be weak.
C172 pilot reports narrowly avoiding an FBO fuel truck that enters the runway while the reporter is taking off. The takeoff is rejected. The driver stated he had forgotten his handheld VHF and did not see the departing C172 until too late to stop.