# NTSB ANC04LA100: Piper PA-14, N4241H, Cordova, AK, September 1, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 31, 2004, 16:50 local (Sep 1, 2004, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Cordova, AK - Coordinates: 60.491943, -145.477783 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.4919&lon=-145.4778&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-JNU FSDO 05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 60024 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC04LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60024/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC04LA100 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout during taxi, which resulted in a collision with a runway marker sign. A factor contributing to the accident was sunglare in the pilot's eyes. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - airport sign/marker - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) ## Analysis The commercial certificated pilot was preparing to taxi for takeoff. Another airplane taxied behind the accident airplane, waiting for the pilot to proceed. The pilot was not ready, and motioned to the second airplane to move ahead. When it did not move, the pilot decided to move his airplane out of the way, and he taxied outside of the taxiway lights and stopped. The pilot said that the sun was in his eyes, and after the second airplane departed, he began to taxi his airplane forward. He did not see a taxiway sign for taxiway "C" that was under the nose of his airplane. The sign was about 3 feet wide, and 3 feet high. The right main landing gear struck the sign, and the landing gear strut was displaced aft about 18 inches. The right wing lift struts were bent when they struck the top of the taxiway sign. ## Factual narrative On August 31, 2004, about 1650 Alaska daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Piper PA-14 airplane, N4241H, sustained substantial damage when it collided with a runway taxiway sign while taxiing for takeoff from the Merle "Mudhole" Smith Airport, Cordova, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rule (VFR) cross-country personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot with an intended destination of McCarthy, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 1, 2004, the pilot reported that he was preparing to taxi for takeoff. Another airplane taxied behind his, and waited for takeoff. The pilot said he was not ready for takeoff, and motioned to the second airplane to move ahead. When it did not move, the pilot decided to move his airplane out of the way, and he taxied outside of the taxiway lights and stopped. The pilot said that the sun was in his eyes, and after the second airplane departed, he began to taxi his airplane forward. He did not see a taxiway sign for taxiway "C" that was under the nose of his airplane. The sign was about 3 feet wide, and 3 feet high. The right main landing gear struck the sign, and the landing gear strut was displaced aft about 18 inches. The right wing lift struts were bent when they struck the top of the taxiway sign. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4241H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4241H), registered now, S/N 14-44 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-14 - Registry model: [Piper PA-14](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (registry code 7101402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14-44 - Airframe hours: 9596 - Engines: Lycoming O-320A2 160 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Clifford P. Collins - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 26, 2004, 98 hours before - Departed: PACV, Cordova, AK - Destination: 15Z, McCarthy, AK - Airport: PACV, Merle K (Mudhole) Smith ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 10, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 4,738 total, 2,624 in this make and model, 4,738 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PACV ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040901024459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040901024459A), Sep 1, 2004: Piper PA14, Cordova, AK, Minor damage. (-23) Pilot was apparently hurrying to exit the runway prior to the arrival of an Alaska airlines jet. When the pilot turned onto the taxiway, he was blinded… ## Other investigations on N4241H (1) 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 ANC74DAG96](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC74DAG96), Apr 8, 1974: Piper PA-14 (N4241H), Mcgrath, AK, substantial damage 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.