ANC02LA086

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-31-350 · Fairbanks, AK · July 30, 2002

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 30, 2002, 13:40 local (21:40 UTC)
Place
Fairbanks, AK
Injuries
4 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N3527UPiper PA-31-350N739PBCessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 25, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Alaska Regional Office
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
55404

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The failure of both pilots to maintain adequate visual outlook while taxiing.

The failure of both pilots to maintain adequate visual outlook while taxiing.

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.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - from landing
Visual lookout - inadequatePilots of both aircraftCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - to takeoff
Visual lookout - inadequatePilots of both aircraftCause

Analysis

A Cessna 172 airplane sustained substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a Piper PA-31 airplane, as the Cessna was taxiing for takeoff, and the Piper was taxiing to park. The Piper was not damaged. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was taxiing northbound on taxiway Delta, en route to runway 19L. He said that as he passed the intersection with taxiway Romeo, a Piper that was turning left from Romeo onto taxiway Delta, struck the aft portion of his airplane's left wing. He said that in an attempt to avoid the collision, he applied full right rudder, and heavy braking, but the right propeller of the converging Piper struck the left wing of his Cessna . The Piper pilot stated that while making a left turn from taxiway Romeo onto taxiway Delta, she heard one of her passengers seated in the rear and on the right side of the airplane yell: "To your right, to your right." Subsequently, the right propeller of the taxiing Piper struck the Cessna's left wing. Both pilots commented that construction activity in the area complicated taxi operations. Both pilots acknowledged that the area in which the collision took place was considered "uncontrolled" by FAA air traffic ground controllers.

A Cessna 172 airplane sustained substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a Piper PA-31 airplane, as the Cessna was taxiing for takeoff, and the Piper was taxiing to park. The Piper was not damaged. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was taxiing northbound on taxiway Delta, en route to runway 19L. He said that as he passed the intersection with taxiway Romeo, a Piper that was turning left from Romeo onto taxiway Delta, struck the aft portion of his airplane's left wing. He said that in an attempt to avoid the collision, he applied full right rudder, and heavy braking, but the right propeller of the converging Piper struck the left wing of his Cessna . The Piper pilot stated that while making a left turn from taxiway Romeo onto taxiway Delta, she heard one of her passengers seated in the rear and on the right side of the airplane yell: "To your right, to your right." Subsequently, the right propeller of the taxiing Piper struck the Cessna's left wing. Both pilots commented that construction activity in the area complicated taxi operations. Both pilots acknowledged that the area in which the collision took place was considered "uncontrolled" by FAA air traffic ground controllers.

Factual narrative

On July 30, 2002, about 1340 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N739PB, sustained substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N3527U, at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The Piper PA-31-350 was not damaged. The two airplanes collided as the Cessna 172 was taxiing for takeoff, and while the Piper PA-31-350 was taxiing to parking after landing. The Cessna 172's flight was being conducted as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The Piper PA-31-350's flight was being conducted as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic commuter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, operated as Flight 755, by Warbelow's Air Ventures, Inc., Fairbanks. The PA-31-350's flight originated at the Tanana Airport, Tanana, Alaska. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the two passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 30, the pilot of the Cessna 172 reported that he was taxiing northbound on taxiway Delta, en route to runway 19L. He said that as he passed the intersection with taxiway Romeo, a Piper PA-31-350 that was turning left from Romeo onto taxiway Delta struck the aft portion of his airplane's left wing. He said that in an attempt to avoid the collision, he applied full right rudder, and heavy braking, but the right propeller of the converging PA-31 struck the left wing of his airplane. He added that after he noticed the taxiing PA-31-350, he just did not have enough time to react and avoid the collision. The Cessna 172 sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left aileron.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on July 31, the pilot of the PA-31-350 reported that after landing on runway 19R, she informed the Fairbanks ATCT ground controller the she would be parking at the Warbelow's ramp, located on the east side of the airport. She was instructed to proceed to parking at the east ramp, via taxiways Bravo, Echo, Romeo, and Delta. The PA-31-350 pilot stated that while taxiing slowly on taxiway Romeo, and while making a left turn onto taxiway Delta, she heard one of her passengers seated in the rear and on the right side of the airplane, yell: "To your right, to your right." Subsequently, the right propeller of the taxiing PA-31-350 collided with the Cessna 172's left wing and aileron. The PA-31-350 sustained no damage during the collision. According to the pilot's written statement that was included in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the operator, the pilot reported that her airplane was struck by the Cessna 172 as she was taxiing to parking. She reported that just after the collision, she stopped her airplane on the taxiway, and shutdown the engines. She wrote, in part: "The other airplane eventually came to a halt also, after striking my right propeller from behind with it's left wingtip."

Both pilot's commented that construction activity in the area complicated taxi operations. Both pilot's acknowledged that the area in which the collision took place was considered "uncontrolled" by FAA air traffic ground controllers.

On July 30, 2002, about 1340 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airplane, N739PB, sustained substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a Piper PA-31-350 airplane, N3527U, at the Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, Alaska. The Piper PA-31-350 was not damaged. The two airplanes collided as the Cessna 172 was taxiing for takeoff, and while the Piper PA-31-350 was taxiing to parking after landing. The Cessna 172's flight was being conducted as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport pilot was not injured. The Piper PA-31-350's flight was being conducted as a visual flight rules (VFR) scheduled domestic commuter flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, operated as Flight 755, by Warbelow's Air Ventures, Inc., Fairbanks. The PA-31-350's flight originated at the Tanana Airport, Tanana, Alaska. The certificated airline transport pilot, and the two passengers aboard, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 30, the pilot of the Cessna 172 reported that he was taxiing northbound on taxiway Delta, en route to runway 19L. He said that as he passed the intersection with taxiway Romeo, a Piper PA-31-350 that was turning left from Romeo onto taxiway Delta struck the aft portion of his airplane's left wing. He said that in an attempt to avoid the collision, he applied full right rudder, and heavy braking, but the right propeller of the converging PA-31 struck the left wing of his airplane. He added that after he noticed the taxiing PA-31-350, he just did not have enough time to react and avoid the collision. The Cessna 172 sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left aileron.

During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on July 31, the pilot of the PA-31-350 reported that after landing on runway 19R, she informed the Fairbanks ATCT ground controller the she would be parking at the Warbelow's ramp, located on the east side of the airport. She was instructed to proceed to parking at the east ramp, via taxiways Bravo, Echo, Romeo, and Delta. The PA-31-350 pilot stated that while taxiing slowly on taxiway Romeo, and while making a left turn onto taxiway Delta, she heard one of her passengers seated in the rear and on the right side of the airplane, yell: "To your right, to your right." Subsequently, the right propeller of the taxiing PA-31-350 collided with the Cessna 172's left wing and aileron. The PA-31-350 sustained no damage during the collision. According to the pilot's written statement that was included in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the operator, the pilot reported that her airplane was struck by the Cessna 172 as she was taxiing to parking. She reported that just after the collision, she stopped her airplane on the taxiway, and shutdown the engines. She wrote, in part: "The other airplane eventually came to a halt also, after striking my right propeller from behind with it's left wingtip."

Both pilot's commented that construction activity in the area complicated taxi operations. Both pilot's acknowledged that the area in which the collision took place was considered "uncontrolled" by FAA air traffic ground controllers.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N3527U
Reported as
Piper PA-31-350
Category
Airplane
Serial number
31-7952141
Airframe hours
21,008.4
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
No damage
Flight
Part 135
Registered owner
Warbelow'S Air Ventures Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · July 19, 2002 · 57.6 hours before
Departed
TAL · Tanana, AK
Destination
FAI · Fairbanks, AK
Flight plan
VFR
Airport
PAFA · Fairbanks International

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.

Registration
N739PB
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17270687
Airframe hours
2,742
Engine
Lycoming O320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Arthur B. Quackenbush
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · August 9, 2001 · 22 hours before
Departed
FAI · Fairbanks, AK
Destination
FAI · Fairbanks, AK
Airport
PAFA · Fairbanks International

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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N3527U
Age
36
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight engineer, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
June 16, 2002
Seat
Left
Flight hours
3,850 total · 275 in this make and model · 1,375 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N739PB
Age
50
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
July 16, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,400 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 2,200 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
64 °F

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N3527U · 2

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