- Date
- December 3, 2002, 14:07 local (19:07 UTC)
- Place
- Eastman, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N289HGPiper PA-28-161
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 30, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Atlanta FSDO-11
- FAA report
- 20021203032829A
- Case key
- 56170
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 pilots failure to maintain a visual lookout resulting in the subsequent on ground collision with a hangar.
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 pilot was taxiing on the ramp for parking. He failed to maintain a visual lookout while applying left rudder to stop a turn and inadvertently stepped on his headset cord. His head jerked downward and he became distracted while attempting to untangle his head from the headset cord. The airplane continued forward and collided with a hangar.
Factual narrative
On December 3, 2002, at 1407 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N289HG, registered and operated by Georgia Aviation and Technical College, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, experienced an on-ground collision with a hangar while taxiing for parking. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the private pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Augusta, Georgia, at 1300.
The pilot stated he was taxiing on the ramp after landing without a ground guide. He taxied between a parked airplane and the hangar. He applied left rudder to stop his turn and inadvertently stepped on his headset cord. His head was jerked downward and he became distracted while attempting to untangle his head from the headset cord. The airplane continued forward and collided with the hangar.
Examination of the airplane on December 5, 2002, revealed the left wing forward spar, ribs, and stringers were bent.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N289HG
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-161
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2842146
- Airframe hours
- 356
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D3G, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Georgia Aviation and Technical College
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 7, 2002 · 39 hours before
- Departed
- AGS · Augusta, GA
- Destination
- EZM · Eastman, GA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- EZM · Heart of Georgia
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
- 20
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- June 13, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 83 total · 83 in this make and model · 47 as pilot in command · 23 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Observed at
- VDI, 38 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.