What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While taxiing onto the ramp after landing, the aircraft struck a palm tree with the leading edge of the left wing; about one foot in from the wing tip.
The line person/marshaller was pointing to the location they were to park the aircraft. He did give the pilots an emergency stop signal, however, it was to late to prevent the impact.
The aircraft contacted the tree while making a 180-degree turn to park for shutdown.
The pilots commented they were looking at the line person/marshaller and not the wingtip. The PIC admitted he is responsible.
The right seat employee in training was taxing the aircraft, with the PIC also making inputs to controls.
The ramp was not congested.
The pilot has been to atlantic, at Burbank, multiple times prior to this accident.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE TAXIING ONTO THE RAMP AFTER LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A PALM TREE WITH THE LEADING EDGE OF THE LEFT WING; ABOUT ONE FOOT IN FROM THE WING TIP.
THE LINE PERSON/MARSHALLER WAS POINTING TO THE LOCATION THEY WERE TO PARK THE AIRCRAFT. HE DID GIVE THE PILOTS AN EMERGENCY STOP SIGNAL, HOWEVER, IT WAS TO LATE TO PREVENT THE IMPACT.
THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TREE WHILE MAKING A 180-DEGREE TURN TO PARK FOR SHUTDOWN.
THE PILOTS COMMENTED THEY WERE LOOKING AT THE LINE PERSON/MARSHALLER AND NOT THE WINGTIP. THE PIC ADMITTED HE IS RESPONSIBLE.
THE RIGHT SEAT EMPLOYEE IN TRAINING WAS TAXING THE AIRCRAFT, WITH THE PIC ALSO MAKING INPUTS TO CONTROLS.
THE RAMP WAS NOT CONGESTED.
THE PILOT HAS BEEN TO ATLANTIC, AT BURBANK, MULTIPLE TIMES PRIOR TO THIS ACCIDENT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N97WC · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.