20100723039819A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Cessna 152 · Ephrata, WA · July 23, 2010

Date: July 23, 2010 · 06:00 local
Place: Ephrata, WA
Airport: Ephrata Municipal
Phase of flight: Taxi
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N6139M
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR10CA367
Reported as: Cessna 152
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 445 total123 in this make and model10 in the last 90 days

N6139MRegistered now · Cessna 152S/N 15284630 · Built 1980 Airframe modelCessna 152 Engine modelLycoming 0-235 series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On July 23, 2010, privacy data omitted was acting as pilot in command of a Cessna 152 registration N6139M. During his first instructional flight of the day and as sole manipulator of the controls and while taxing for take-off, the aircraft struck a fire hydrant. He taxied the aircraft northeast bound on the broad ramp area to avoid the glider parking. Once he had cleared the glider parking, he intended to then taxi southwest on the parallel taxiway for runway 03. As he came around the hanger, the sun was very bright and blinding (sun was just cresting the horizon) and he did not see the fire hydrant. Before he could react and stop the aircraft, the right horizontal stabilizer struck the fire hydrant. Pilot also stated that this was his second day instructing in Ephrata, and was not aware of the fire hydrant. Fire hydrant is located about 50 feet from the hanger towards the taxiway/runway direction.

As the FAA filed it

ON JULY 23, 2010, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ACTING AS PILOT IN COMMAND OF A CESSNA 152 REGISTRATION N6139M. DURING HIS FIRST INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT OF THE DAY AND AS SOLE MANIPULATOR OF THE CONTROLS AND WHILE TAXING FOR TAKE-OFF, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A FIRE HYDRANT. HE TAXIED THE AIRCRAFT NORTHEAST BOUND ON THE BROAD RAMP AREA TO AVOID THE GLIDER PARKING. ONCE HE HAD CLEARED THE GLIDER PARKING, HE INTENDED TO THEN TAXI SOUTHWEST ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY FOR RUNWAY 03. AS HE CAME AROUND THE HANGER, THE SUN WAS VERY BRIGHT AND BLINDING (SUN WAS JUST CRESTING THE HORIZON) AND HE DID NOT SEE THE FIRE HYDRANT. BEFORE HE COULD REACT AND STOP THE AIRCRAFT, THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER STRUCK THE FIRE HYDRANT. PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THIS WAS HIS SECOND DAY INSTRUCTING IN EPHRATA, AND WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FIRE HYDRANT. FIRE HYDRANT IS LOCATED ABOUT 50 FEET FROM THE HANGER TOWARDS THE TAXIWAY/RUNWAY DIRECTION.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR10CA367Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportEphrata, WAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fire hydrant while taxiing to the runway.Jul 23, 2010 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N6139M · 2

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

Incident 19930327007039ILevel Off Touchdown · Newport, ORStudent not lined up on runway due to crosswind. Over corrected. Struck a VASI light.Mar 27, 1993 · Minor damage Accident 19820817038889ALevel Off Touchdown · Grants Pass, IDStudent pilot panicked on nose high level off for landing, pushed control forward, airplane hit runway nose first.Aug 17, 1982 · Substantial damage