What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Incident investigation narrative
On January 30, 2024, at approximately 14:00 LCL, a Mooney M20C was taxiing back from the south ramp at Prescott regional airport (prc) to the north ramp where it would park. Only the PIC was on board. The airplane had been taxied to the south ramp to get washed (no intention of flight).
While taxiing on the north ramp in a narrow corridor behind other parked airplanes. The Mooney’s left wing struck the rudder of two parked airplanes (both unoccupied). The PIC did not notice the impacts and taxied a few parking spots down and parked.
The PIC was eventually informed of the damage by one of the other privacy data omitted (whose airplane had been hit). The PIC contacted airport ops and advised of the situation the same day. Damage to all aircraft was considered minor. No injuries were reported.
As a note, the eon report by the airport was issued late and the FSDO was informed 15 days after the event.
Causal/contributing factors:
The PIC was interviewed. He stated he had operated on this ramp before but not in the direction he taxied or in this narrow area. He was unfamiliar with that part of the ramp. He admitted fault and stated he misjudged distances.
He initially had a hard time believing he did not feel the impact of his left wingtip onto the other aircraft. However, he hit moveable surfaces (which easily pivot) that are light and easy to move.
Recommendations for systemic corrective action to reduce risk of future occurrence:
• The investigating ASI performed the compliance action of counseling and discussed root cause analysis and mitigating strategies to prevent reoccurrence. The ASI also covered best practices when it comes to reporting such events.
• The PIC proactively performed a wings course relevant to this event. The PIC has reviewed the event with another flight instructor.
• The investigating ASI reviewed the relevant regulations that were violated (14 CFR §91.13 and §91.111).
As the FAA filed it
INCIDENT INVESTIGATION NARRATIVE
ON JANUARY 30, 2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 14:00 LCL, A MOONEY M20C WAS TAXIING BACK FROM THE SOUTH RAMP AT PRESCOTT REGIONAL AIRPORT (PRC) TO THE NORTH RAMP WHERE IT WOULD PARK. ONLY THE PIC WAS ON BOARD. THE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN TAXIED TO THE SOUTH RAMP TO GET WASHED (NO INTENTION OF FLIGHT).
WHILE TAXIING ON THE NORTH RAMP IN A NARROW CORRIDOR BEHIND OTHER PARKED AIRPLANES. THE MOONEY’S LEFT WING STRUCK THE RUDDER OF TWO PARKED AIRPLANES (BOTH UNOCCUPIED). THE PIC DID NOT NOTICE THE IMPACTS AND TAXIED A FEW PARKING SPOTS DOWN AND PARKED.
THE PIC WAS EVENTUALLY INFORMED OF THE DAMAGE BY ONE OF THE OTHER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ (WHOSE AIRPLANE HAD BEEN HIT). THE PIC CONTACTED AIRPORT OPS AND ADVISED OF THE SITUATION THE SAME DAY. DAMAGE TO ALL AIRCRAFT WAS CONSIDERED MINOR. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.
AS A NOTE, THE EON REPORT BY THE AIRPORT WAS ISSUED LATE AND THE FSDO WAS INFORMED 15 DAYS AFTER THE EVENT.
CAUSAL/CONTRIBUTING FACTORS:
THE PIC WAS INTERVIEWED. HE STATED HE HAD OPERATED ON THIS RAMP BEFORE BUT NOT IN THE DIRECTION HE TAXIED OR IN THIS NARROW AREA. HE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH THAT PART OF THE RAMP. HE ADMITTED FAULT AND STATED HE MISJUDGED DISTANCES.
HE INITIALLY HAD A HARD TIME BELIEVING HE DID NOT FEEL THE IMPACT OF HIS LEFT WINGTIP ONTO THE OTHER AIRCRAFT. HOWEVER, HE HIT MOVEABLE SURFACES (WHICH EASILY PIVOT) THAT ARE LIGHT AND EASY TO MOVE.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYSTEMIC CORRECTIVE ACTION TO REDUCE RISK OF FUTURE OCCURRENCE:
• THE INVESTIGATING ASI PERFORMED THE COMPLIANCE ACTION OF COUNSELING AND DISCUSSED ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS AND MITIGATING STRATEGIES TO PREVENT REOCCURRENCE. THE ASI ALSO COVERED BEST PRACTICES WHEN IT COMES TO REPORTING SUCH EVENTS.
• THE PIC PROACTIVELY PERFORMED A WINGS COURSE RELEVANT TO THIS EVENT. THE PIC HAS REVIEWED THE EVENT WITH ANOTHER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR.
• THE INVESTIGATING ASI REVIEWED THE RELEVANT REGULATIONS THAT WERE VIOLATED (14 CFR §91.13 AND §91.111).