# NTSB ATL93LA091: Cessna 172, N4856D, Wilmington, NC, May 10, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 10, 1993, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC)
- Place: Wilmington, NC
- Location: 34.2712° N, 77.9029° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at WILMINGTON INTL (ILM), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2712&lon=-77.9029&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 19, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3209
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL93LA091
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3209/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL93LA091

## Probable cause

THE GROUND PERSONNEL'S FAILURE TO ENSURE THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS CLEAR OF OBSTRUCTIONS WHICH RESULTED IN THE RIGHT WING COLLIDING  WITH A UTILITY POLE. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, taxi - from landing
  - object - utility pole
  - wing,winglet - buckled
  - clearance - not maintained, ground personnel (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, SHE COMPLETED A NORMAL LANDING AND WAS TAXIING TO PARKING WHEN A GROUND GUIDE ON THE RAMP APPROACHED THE AIRPLANE TO ASSIST WITH THE PARKING. AS THE AIRPLANE NEARED THE PARKING SPOT, THE GROUND GUIDE INSTRUCTED THE PILOT TO TURN LEFT. AS THE PILOT STARTED THE TURN, THE RIGHT OUTBOARD WING PANEL COLLIDED WITH A UTILITY POLE ON THE RAMP

## Factual narrative

On May 10, 1993, at 1015 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172 , N4856D, collided with a utility pole while taxiing to parking at the New Hanover County Airport, Wilmington, North Carolina. The instructional flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the collision. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed Wilmington at 0915 hours.

According to the pilot, she had completed a local flight and was cleared to taxi to the ramp. Upon arriving at the parking area, a line boy came out to assist the pilot with the parking of the airplane; the pilot proceeded to follow the ground guide's instructions. As the ground guide instructed the pilot to turn left, the right wing collided with a utility pole.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4856D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4856D), registered now, S/N 17272374, built 1979 (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: 17272374
- Airframe hours: 1530
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hiltz, Vera
- Registered owner: Hiltz, Vera
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 7, 1993, 125 hours before
- Departed: ILM
- Destination: ILM
- Airport: ILM, New Hanover International, runway 17, 7,002 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 484 total, 484 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ILM, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19930510034329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930510034329A), May 10, 1993: Cessna 172N, Wilmington, NC, Substantial damage. Wing collided with a light pole while turning to park. Was following linemans directions.

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.

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