- Date
- May 13, 2011, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place
- Greenfield, IN
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N10143Mooney M20J
- Defining event
- Taxi: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 22, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-Indianapolis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110513008329A
- Case key
- 79133
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 pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a communications cart while taxiing.
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.
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.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was taxiing to the ramp after landing when he heard ground controllers instruct another airplane to hold short to allow his airplane to pass. The pilot stated that he moved to the right for more clearance between the other airplane and his. The right wingtip of the airplane struck a remote communications cart that was placed at the edge of the taxiway. The accident airplane suffered substantial damage to the right wing. The outboard 2 to 3 feet of the leading edge of the right wing was crushed rearward causing damage to the wing skin, ribs, and spar. After the accident, the remote communications cart was moved farther from the edge of the taxiway.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was taxiing to the ramp after landing when he heard ground controllers instruct another aircraft to hold short to allow his airplane to pass. The pilot stated that he moved to the right for more clearance between the other aircraft and his. The right wingtip of the airplane struck a remote communications cart that was placed at the edge of the taxiway. The remote communications cart was being used by the United States Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team who were performing at an airshow at the airport. The accident airplane suffered substantial damage to the right wing. The outboard 2 to 3 feet of the leading edge of the right wing was crushed rearward causing damage to the wing skin, ribs, and spar. After the accident, the remote communications cart was moved farther from the edge of the of the taxiway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N10143
- Reported as
- Mooney M20J
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-1107
- Airframe hours
- 1,745
- Engine
- Lycoming IO360 SER A&C, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 23, 2010 · 46 hours before
- Departed
- RZL · Rensselaer, IN
- Destination
- MQJ · Greenfield, IN
- Airport
- MQJ · Indianapolis Regional 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
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 57
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 23, 2009
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 543 total · 119 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.75 inHg
- Observed at
- KGEZ, 16 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 22, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 390 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.