# Accident 20060711022179A: Piper PA31350, Indianapolis, IN, July 11, 2006

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 11, 2006, 03:42 local time
- Place: Indianapolis, IN
- Airport: Indianapolis International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: BSYA
- Location: 39.7167° N, 86.3000° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7167&lon=-86.3000&mi=10
- Aircraft: N40978, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40978) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-31-350 (registry code 7103110, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA31350
- Reported engine: LYC IO540*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,318 total, 63 in this make and model, 222 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI06CA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA181) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060711022179A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON JULY 11, 2006, AIRNET INC. FLIGHT #503, PA31, WHILE TAXIING AT IND COLLIDED WITH A TUG VEHICLE AT THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN TAXIWAY DELTA AND THE SERVICE ROAD BY FEDERAL EXPRESS SORTING FACILITY AT 0230C, THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED, AN EMPLOYEE OF AIRNET INC, NO INJURIES NOTED. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA^ STATED THAT HE WAS GIVEN CLEARANCE BY IND ATC TO TAXI THE AIRCRAFT AND HIS TAXI/AIRCRAFT LIGHTS WERE ON. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA^ STATED HE DID NOT SEE A TUG ON THE TAXIWAY. THE TUG DRIVER ^PRIVACY DATA OM^, AN EMPLOYEE OF EVERGREEN STATED THAT HE STOPPED AND LOOKED BOTH WAYS BEFORE CROSSING THE TAXIWAY. ^PRIVACY D^ OBTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE TUG WAS TOWING FIVE CARTS. THE AIRCRAFT OBTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE ON THE LEFT SIDE.

## 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 CHI06CA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA181), Jul 11, 2006: Piper PA-31-350 (N40978), Indianapolis, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the tug driver to maintain clearance from the airplane taxiing on an active taxiway. A factor was the night conditions.

## Other reports on N40978 (1)

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

- [Accident 19890301002899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890301002899A), Mar 1, 1989: Piper PA31350 (N40978), Toms River, NJ, Substantial damage. Reported runaway pitch down trim. Circuit board installed incorrectly. Exact cause unknown. Pull up caused damage.

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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