CEN10LA338

NTSB accident investigation · Pilatus P3-05 · Canby, MN · June 20, 2010

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
June 20, 2010, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
Place
Canby, MN
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Standing
Aircraft
N831ASPilatus P3-05N8BPNorth American AT-6A
Defining events
Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collisionTaxi: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 11, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
76408

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 North American's pilot's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout, which resulted in an on-ground collision with the Pilatus.

The North American pilot's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout, which resulted in an on-ground collision with the Pilatus.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

N831AS · Pilatus P3-05

Action: lack of actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraftPilatus P3-05: 1 caseAll aircraft: 792 casesProbable cause

N8BP · North American AT-6A

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

N831AS · Pilatus P3-05

Ground collisionStanding-engine(s) operatingPilatus P3-05: 1 caseAll aircraft: 618 casesDefining event

Analysis

The Pilatus P3-05 was holding for takeoff while the North American AT-6A was taxiing for takeoff. According to the pilot of the Pilatus, prior to his departure he obtained fuel and taxied to a clear area for about 1-2 minutes because of other airplanes entering the fueling area. While holding in this area, a North American taxied from behind the Pilatus and struck it. The North American pilot stated that he was in the process of loading and unloading passengers for rides with the engine running when the Pilatus stopped in front of him. The Pilatus sustained substantial damage, which included two damaged ribs within the left wing; the North American sustained minor damage to its right main landing gear door.

The Pilatus P3-05 was holding for takeoff while the North American AT-6A was taxiing for takeoff. According to the pilot of the Pilatus, prior to his departure he obtained fuel and taxied to a clear area for about 1-2 minutes because of other airplanes entering the fueling area. While holding in this area, a North American taxied from behind the Pilatus and struck it. The North American pilot stated that he was in the process of loading and unloading passengers for rides with the engine running when the Pilatus stopped in front of him. The Pilatus sustained substantial damage, which included two damaged ribs within the left wing; the North American sustained minor damage to its right main landing gear door.

Factual narrative

On June 20, 2010, at 1615 central daylight time, a Pilatus P3-05, N831AS, received substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a North American AT-6A, N8BP, at Myers Field Airport, Canby, Minnesota. The North American AT-6A struck the Pilatus P3-05, which was stopped with its engine running, near a fueling area. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There were no injuries reported. Both airplanes were being operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The Pilatus P3-05 was holding for takeoff to return to Yankton, South Dakota, and the North American AT-6A was taxiing for takeoff and was to remain in the local area while giving air rides. The pilot of the Pilatus P3-05 stated that he flew into the airport to attend a fly-in breakfast and airshow. Prior to his departure from the event, he obtained fuel and taxied to a "clear" area for about 1-2 minutes because of other aircraft coming into the fueling area. While holding in this area, a North American AT-6A taxied from behind the Pilatus and struck it. The North American AT-6A pilot stated the he was in the process of loading and unloading passengers for rides in the North American AT-6A with the engine running when the Pilatus stopped in front of North American AT-6A. The Pilatus P3-05 sustained substantial damage, which included two damaged ribs within the left wing. The North American AT-6A sustained minor damage to its right main landing gear door.

On June 20, 2010, at 1615 central daylight time, a Pilatus P3-05, N831AS, received substantial damage during an on-ground collision with a North American AT-6A, N8BP, at Myers Field Airport, Canby, Minnesota. The North American AT-6A struck the Pilatus P3-05, which was stopped with its engine running, near a fueling area. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. There were no injuries reported. Both airplanes were being operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The Pilatus P3-05 was holding for takeoff to return to Yankton, South Dakota, and the North American AT-6A was taxiing for takeoff and was to remain in the local area while giving air rides. The pilot of the Pilatus P3-05 stated that he flew into the airport to attend a fly-in breakfast and air show. Prior to his departure from the event, he obtained fuel and taxied to a "clear" area for about 1-2 minutes because of other aircraft coming into the fueling area. While holding in this area, a North American AT-6A taxied from behind the Pilatus and struck it. The North American AT-6A pilot stated the he was in the process of loading and unloading passengers for rides in the North American AT-6A with the engine running when the Pilatus stopped in front of North American AT-6A. The Pilatus P3-05 sustained substantial damage, which included two damaged ribs within the left wing. The North American AT-6A sustained minor damage to its right main landing gear door.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N831AS
Reported as
Pilatus P3-05
Category
Airplane
Serial number
469-18
Airframe hours
3,447
Engine
Lycoming TIO-540-AE2A, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Pilot
Registered owner
Pilot
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · April 26, 2010
Departed
CNB · Canby, MN
Destination
Yankton, SD
Flight plan
Unknown
Airport
CNB · Myers Field Airport

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.

Registration
N8BP
Reported as
North American AT-6A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
66-2517
Engine
Pratt & Whitney 1340 AN-1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Other work use · Part 91
Operator
Pilot
Registered owner
Pilot
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
CNB · Canby, MN
Destination
CNB · Canby, MN
Airport
CNB · Myers Field Airport

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 · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N831AS
Age
50
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 20, 2010
Seat
Center
Flight hours
592 total · 88 in this make and model · 544 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N8BP
Age
67
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 10, 2010
Seat
Front
Flight hours
6,400 total · 800 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
0° at 0 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
29.95 inHg
Observed at
DXX, 16 nm away

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 19, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.