# NTSB CEN11CA015: Piper PA-32R-300, N38205, Richmond, IN, October 8, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: October 7, 2010, 20:09 local (Oct 8, 2010, 00:09 UTC)
- Place: Richmond, IN
- Coordinates: 39.756111, -84.842781 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7561&lon=-84.8428&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 29, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77557
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA015
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77557/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77557
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA015

## Probable cause

The pilot's diverted attention to a landing gear indicator light that led to a loss of directional control and subsequent impact with terrain while taxiing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Workload management](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064000/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064000/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Airport personnel; cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-from runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-32R-300, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7103213), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During an after-landing taxi on a closed and unbarricaded taxiway, the pilot noticed a flickering landing gear indicator light. When the pilot diverted his attention to the indicator light, the airplane veered off the closed taxiway and into a drainage ditch that was under construction adjacent to the taxiway. A notice to airman (NOTAM) for the taxiway closure had been issued and was also known by the pilot.

## Factual narrative

During an after landing taxi on a closed and unbarricaded taxiway, the pilot noticed a flickering landing gear indicator light. When the pilot diverted his attention to the indicator light, the airplane veered off the closed taxiway and into a drainage ditch that was under construction adjacent to the taxiway. The airplane sustained substantial damage, which included damage to the firewall, the right rear landing gear spar, and buckling of the right wing. The pilot was uninjured. A notice to airman (NOTAM) for the taxiway closure was issued and was also known by the pilot. The airport operations manager initially told Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that there were no NOTAMs issued pertaining to the taxiway closure. Upon completion of the FAA's on-scene documentation, the airport manager was asked whether there was a NOTAM issued to which the airport operations manager stated that there was a NOTAM for general construction.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N38205](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38205), registered now, S/N 32R-7780403, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32R-300
- Registry model: [Piper PA-32R-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32r-300) (registry code 7103213) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 32R-7780403
- Airframe hours: 4844.41
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-K1A5D reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: Aeroplus Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2009
- Departed: CEV, Connersville, IN
- Destination: RID, Richmond, IN
- Airport: RID, Richmond Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 12, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 663 total, 175 in this make and model, 624 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Observed at: MWO

## 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 20101007047969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101007047969A), Oct 7, 2010: Piper/Lance PA-32R-300, Richmond, IN, Substantial damage. At 2010 hours local time, the pilot made an uneventful landing on runway 24 at the Richmond Municipal Airport (rid), Richmond Indiana. While taxing on taxiway…

## Other investigations on N38205 (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 NYC82DHA02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82DHA02), Oct 22, 1981: Piper PA-32R (N38205), Princeton, NJ, substantial damage

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77557. 606 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 581 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339217&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Notices to Airman (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Notices%20to%20Airman-Master.PDF

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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