# Accident 20040513009959A: Piper PA28161, Tucson, AZ, May 13, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 13, 2004, 11:00 local time
- Place: Tucson, AZ
- Airport: Ryan Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.1422° N, 111.1744° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1422&lon=-111.1744&mi=10
- Aircraft: N84245, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N84245-2009-03-31) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-28-161 (registry code 7102803, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28161
- Reported engine: LYC O320D3G
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 183 total, 183 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04CA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA208) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040513009959A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT WAS TAXIING TO PARKING AREA. THE TAXIWAY WAS ADJACENT TO A LARGE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING. A BACK-HOE EQUIPPED TRACTOR WAS OPERATING BEHIND THE BUILDING AND NOT IN VIEW OF THE PILOT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PASSING THE END OF THE BUILDING WHEN THE BACK-HOE OPERATOR DROVE THE BACK-HOE ONTO THE TAXIWAY AND COLLIDED WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE BACK-HOE OPERATOR WAS NOT AUTHORIZED TO DRIVE ONTO ANY TAXIWAY AND THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE BACK-HOE TO BE ON THE TAXIWAY.

## 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 LAX04CA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA208), May 13, 2004: Piper PA-28-161 (N84245), Tucson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the backhoe driver's failure to maintain visual lookout while maneuvering near a taxiway, which resulted in its collision with a taxiing airplane.

## Other reports on N84245 (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20070913022109I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070913022109I), Sep 13, 2007: Piper PA28161 (N84245), Tucson, AZ, Minor damage. (-23) The student pilot [privacy data omitted] was taxiing aircraft (N84245) on ramp at Ryan airport when right wing struck fuel truck. Aircraft pulled to the…
- [Incident 20040728016399I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040728016399I), Jul 28, 2004: Piper PA28161 (N84245), Tucson, AZ, Minor damage. (-23) Student pilot was conducting his first supervised solo flight. On the last of the solo landings, Ryan tower requested the pilot to turn right onto…

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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