# NTSB BFO95LA002: Piper PA-28R-201T, N38869, Syracuse, NY, October 10, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 1994, 22:58 local (Oct 10, 1994, 02:58 UTC) - Place: Syracuse, NY - Location: 43.1112° N, 76.1063° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at SYRACUSE HANCOCK INTL (SYR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1112&lon=-76.1063&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9007 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO95LA002 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9007/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO95LA002 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE AG-5B, N1190L, TO SEE AND AVOID THE PA-28R, N38869. THE DARK NIGHT WAS A FACTOR. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE AG-5B, N1190L, TO SEE AND AVOID THE PA-28R, N38869. THE DARK NIGHT WAS A FACTOR. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - engine(s) operating - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - object - aircraft moving on ground - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE PA-28R, N38869, WAS HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 28, AT THE INTERSECTION OF TAXIWAYS HOTEL AND JULIET, FOR LANDING TRAFFIC. THE PILOT HAD TURNED OFF THE TAXI AND STROBE LIGHTS, AND HAD ADVISED THE TOWER OF THIS. THE AG-5B, N1190L, HAD ALSO BEEN CLEARED TO TAXI TO RWY 28, AND COLLIDED WITH THE PA-28R. THE AG-5B'S TAXI CLEARANCE FOLLOWED THE PA-28R'S TAXI CLEARANCE BY ABOUT 4 MIN. AT THE TIME THE AG-5B TAXI CLEARANCE, THE PILOT OF THE PA-28R HAD ALREADY REPORTED THAT HE WAS HOLDING SHORT WITH '...LIGHTS OFF.' THE AG-5B WAS STILL ON GROUND CONTROL FREQ. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE PA-28R, N38869, WAS HOLDING SHORT OF RWY 28, AT THE INTERSECTION OF TAXIWAYS HOTEL AND JULIET, FOR LANDING TRAFFIC. THE PILOT HAD TURNED OFF THE TAXI AND STROBE LIGHTS, AND HAD ADVISED THE TOWER OF THIS. THE AG-5B, N1190L, HAD ALSO BEEN CLEARED TO TAXI TO RWY 28, AND COLLIDED WITH THE PA-28R. THE AG-5B'S TAXI CLEARANCE FOLLOWED THE PA-28R'S TAXI CLEARANCE BY ABOUT 4 MIN. AT THE TIME THE AG-5B TAXI CLEARANCE, THE PILOT OF THE PA-28R HAD ALREADY REPORTED THAT HE WAS HOLDING SHORT WITH '...LIGHTS OFF.' THE AG-5B WAS STILL ON GROUND CONTROL FREQ. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See BFO95LA002A Narrative. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On October 9, 1994, at 2258 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA- 28R-201T, N38869, and an American Grumman AG-5B, N1190L, were involved in a ground collision near the active runway (28) at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport located in Syracuse, New York. The pilot and three passengers in N38869 were not injured. N38869 was substantially damaged. The pilot and passenger of N1190L were not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. Both flights were conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot of N38869 stated, "I advised the tower that I was ready for departure on runway 28. Tower advised me to hold short for landing traffic. I had the landing traffic in sight so I turned off my taxi light and strobe and advised the tower that I was holding and also advised of my lights. About 10 to 15 seconds later we were run into by the other aircraft." The pilot of N1190L stated, I taxied down the main taxiway 'hotel', scanning for other traffic, and monitoring ground frequency. Both I, and my passenger, observed no other traffic in the area, outside of an aircraft on approach to Rwy. 28. As I approached the intersection of Hotel and Juliett, I prepared to turn left onto Juliett....Although I was taxiing at an already slow pace, due to the dark conditions, I slowed even further in preparation for the turn. Suddenly, only a few feet ahead of me, appeared a parked aircraft, with no lights visible. This darkened aircraft was stopped on Taxiway Hotel. I immediately took evasive action...Momentum carried my aircraft, and the right wing struck the other aircraft's vertical stabilizer, causing the wing to puncture, and spill fuel. This yawed my aircraft to the right, causing my propeller to damage the other aircraft's empennage...." According to the Syracuse Tower Local and Ground Control combined position tape transcriptions, on the night of the accident, at 2249:10, N38869 was cleared to taxi "...to runway two eight at Juliet." The pilot of N38869 communicated with the controller throughout the transcription. At 2253:17, N1190L was cleared to "...taxi to runway two eight at Juliet." At 2253:24, the pilot of N38869 stated to the controller that he was ready for takeoff. The controller responded, "...hold short landing traffic." The pilot of N38869 responded, "Holding short landing traffic lights off." At 2258:10, the pilot of N38869 reported to the controller that his airplane was struck by another airplane on the taxiway. (See attached transcription for further detail). According to the Airport Manager, the collision occurred a few feet away from the intersection of taxiways Hotel and Juliet. He stated both airplanes appeared to be positioned on taxiway Hotel. The manager stated that the hold short line on taxiway Juliet, for runway 28, was about 500 to 600 feet away from the accident site. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N38869 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-201T (PA-28R-201) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7703280 - Airframe hours: 2734 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-360-FB 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Electronic Industries Inc. - Registered owner: Electronic Industries Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 9, 1993, 224 hours before - Departed: SYR - Destination: ACY, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: SYR, Syracuse Hancock Intl, runway 28 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N1190L (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Grumman American AG-5B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10005 - Airframe hours: 861 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Raritan Valley Flying School - Registered owner: Unionville Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 7, 1994, 34 hours before - Departed: SYR, SYRACUSE, NY - Destination: 39N, PRINCETON, NJ - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Airport: SYR, Syracuse Hancock Intl, runway 28 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N38869; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 742 total, 533 in this make and model, 669 as pilot in command, 84 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days - Pilot, aircraft N1190L; age 35; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 679 total, 7 in this make and model, 579 as pilot in command, 172 in the last 90 days, 98 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg 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.