# NTSB ANC02LA086: Piper PA-31-350, N3527U, Fairbanks, AK, July 30, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 30, 2002, 13:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Fairbanks, AK - Coordinates: 64.800003, -147.850006 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=64.8000&lon=-147.8500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55404 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC02LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55404/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55404 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA086 ## Probable cause (aircraft 3) The failure of both pilots to maintain adequate visual outlook while taxiing. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The failure of both pilots to maintain adequate visual outlook while taxiing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - from landing - visual lookout - inadequate, pilots of both aircraft (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - visual lookout - inadequate, pilots of both aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 3) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 (aircraft 3) 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. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: [N3527U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3527U), registered now, S/N 31-7952141, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-j2bd) (registry code 41977, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7952141 - Airframe hours: 21008.4 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 3 - Registration: [N739PB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N739PB), registered now, S/N 17270687 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17270687 - Airframe hours: 2742 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N3527U; age 36; injuries: none; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N739PB; age 50; injuries: none; 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 ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020730017119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020730017119A), Jul 30, 2002: Piper PA31350, Fairbanks, AK, No damage. (.19) 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… - [Accident 20020730016479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020730016479A), Jul 30, 2002: Cessna 172N, Fairbanks, AK, No damage. (-23) On July 30, 2002, about 1340 Alaska daylight time, a Cessna 172 airpolane, N739PB, sustained substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a… ## Other investigations on N3527U (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC02LA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC02LA022), Mar 13, 2002: Piper PA-31-350 (N3527U), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to complete his prelanding checklist, and a subsequent inadvertent wheels up landing. - [NTSB ANC98LA120](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA120), Aug 12, 1998: Piper PA-31-350 (N3527U), Fort Yukon, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to follow the pre-landing checklist. A factor associated with the accident was the pilot's diverted attention. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 8, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55404. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N3527U (item 1, .PDF, 825 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465449&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20N3527U-Master.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 974 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.