# Accident 19990502020149A: Cessna 172N, Columbus, OH, May 2, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 2, 1999, 12:45 local time
- Place: Columbus, OH
- Airport: Port Columbus International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.9790° N, 82.9797° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9790&lon=-82.9797&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5815E (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N
- Reported engine: LYC O320*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 835 total, 603 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA104) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990502020149A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON MAY 2, 1999, ABOUT 1245 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A CESSNA 172, N5815E, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE TAXIING AT THE PORT COLUMBUS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (CMH), COLUMBUS, OHIO. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91.ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, SHE REQUESTED A PROGRESSIVE TAXI FROM THE GROUND CONTOLLER. THE CONTROLLER TOLD HER TO TAXI SOUTH, OUT OF THE "AIRNET RAMP", AND MAKE A LEFT TURN TO THE EAST, ONTO TAXIWAY CHARLIE. THE PILOT TAXIED SOUTH, AND NOTICED A CHARLIE SIGN. SHE MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO A PERIMETER ROAD, INSTEAD OF THE TAXIWAY. AFTER THE LEFT TURN, THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE. THE PILOT FURTHER STATED THAT SHE HAD NEVER BEEN TO CMH BEFORE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE BY A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR DID NOT REVEAL ANY PRE-IMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS, NOR DID THE PILOT REPORT ANY. THE INSPECTOR OBSERVED SPAR DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING. (-23)ON MAY 2, 1999 AT APPROXIMATELY 1230 LOCAL THE PILOT STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED TAXI INSTRUCTIONS FROM COLUMBUS GROUND CONTROL TO TAXI FROM AIRNET                            RAMP TO TAXIWAY CHARLIE, AND PROCEED EAST. THE PILOT TAXIED TOWARDS TAXIWAY "C" BUT TURNED EAST SHORT OF TAXIWAY "C" ON TO A AIRPORT PERIMETER ROAD, THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK A METAL POST CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.   (.4) THE PILOT REQUESTED A PROGRESSIVE TAXI FROM THE GROUND CONTROLLER. THE CONTROLLER TOLD HER TO TAXI SOUTH, OUT OF THE 'AIRNET RAMP', AND MAKE A LEFT TURN TO THE EAST, ONTO TAXIWAY CHARLIE. THE PILOT TAXIED SOUTH, AND NOTICED A 'C' (CHARLIE) TAXIWAY SIGN. SHE MADE A LEFT TURN ONTO A PERIMETER ROAD, INSTEAD OF THE TAXIWAY. AFTER THE LEFT TURN, THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A FENCE. A REVIEW OF PHOTOGRAPHS REVEALED THAT THERE WAS NO SIGN IDENTIFYING THE PERIMETER ROAD. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIRPORT DIAGRAM USED BY THE PILOT DID NOT DEPICT THE PERIMETER ROAD.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB NYC99LA104](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA104), May 2, 1999: Cessna 172 (N5815E), Columbus, OH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance and his visual perception of the perimeter road as Taxiway Charlie. A factor in the accident was the absence of a sign identifying the perimeter…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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