- Date
- October 7, 1999, 09:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place
- Bethel, AK
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N4762DCessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 17, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19991007028439A
- Case key
- 47682
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the driver of the forklift to maintain an adequate visual outlook.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The certificated commercial pilot, with three passengers aboard, was taxiing to the operator's facility at the conclusion of an on-demand air taxi flight. The pilot said that a forklift was unloading cargo on the ramp area adjacent to the airplane's intended parking area. As the airplane neared the parking area, the forklift struck the outboard end of the left wing of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard portion of the leading edge, including several wing ribs.
Factual narrative
On October 7, 1999, about 0940 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped Cessna 172 airplane, N4762D, sustained substantial damage after being struck by a forklift at the Bethel Airport, Bethel, Alaska. The airplane was taxiing to the operator's facility after landing. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, Village Aviation, Inc., Anchorage, Alaska. The certificated commercial pilot, and the three passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a VFR flight plan was in effect. The flight originated at the Atmautluak Airstrip, Atmautluak, Alaska, about 0918.
The pilot submitted a written report to the NTSB dated October 7. In his written report, the pilot indicated that he had landed and was taxiing to the parking area. He related that a forklift was unloading cargo on the ramp area adjacent to the airplane's intended parking area. As the airplane neared the parking area, the forklift struck the outboard end of the left wing of the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the outboard portion of the leading edge, including several wing ribs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4762D
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 724736
- Airframe hours
- 2,809
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Village Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · September 23, 1999 · 16 hours before
- Departed
- 08AK · Atmautluak, AK
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- BET · Bethel
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,020 total · 640 in this make and model · 1,935 as pilot in command · 232 in the last 90 days · 67 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4762D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.