# NTSB CEN12CA084: Cessna 550, N544PS, Moline, IL, November 23, 2011

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 22, 2011, 20:30 local (Nov 23, 2011, 02:30 UTC)
- Place: Moline, IL
- Coordinates: 41.447776, -90.509162 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4478&lon=-90.5092&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 18, 2012
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 82400
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA084
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82400/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82400
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA084

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the parked, unoccupied airplane while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the guidance provided by the marshaller.

## Findings

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

- [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md)
- [Communication (personnel): issuing instructions](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538): Personnel issues › Task performance · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 26 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063538/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After landing at night, the pilot was taxiing the airplane on a ramp with the airplane's taxi lights illuminated and was paying attention to the ramp marshaller. The pilot originally thought the marshaller would have him park in the position directly next to the fixed base operator; however, the marshaller had the pilot execute a left 180-degree turn and park with the cabin door facing the door of the building. While watching the marshaller outside the right cockpit window, the pilot lost sight of a parked, unoccupied airplane. The pilot then noticed the parked airplane and attempted to stop; however, the airplane's left wing contacted the parked airplane's forward fuselage and nose landing gear. A postaccident examination of the accident airplane showed that the left wing was crushed and bent. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the contact with the parked airplane.

## Factual narrative

After landing in dark night conditions, the pilot was taxing the airplane with the airplane's taxi lights illuminated on a ramp while paying attention to the ramp marshaller. The pilot originally thought the marshaller would have him park directly in the position next to the fixed based operator; however, the marshaller had the pilot execute a left 180-degree turn and park with the cabin door facing the door of the building. While watching the marshaller outside the right cockpit window, the pilot lost sight of a parked, unoccupied airplane, which he observed when he began entering the ramp. The pilot then noticed the parked airplane and attempted to stop; however, his airplane's left wing made contact with the parked airplane's forward fuselage and nose landing gear. Postaccident examination of the airplane showed the left wing was crushed and bent. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the contact with the parked airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N544PS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 550
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 550-0847
- Airframe hours: 7292
- Engines: P&W CANADA 535A 2887 lbs thrust turbo fan; P&W CANADA 530A 4000 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Ferry, Part 91
- Operator: Pws Air LLC
- Registered owner: Pws Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 3, 2011
- Departed: TEB, Teterboro, NJ
- Destination: MLI, Moline, IL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: MLI, Quad Cities International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 11,150 total, 750 in this make and model, 10,050 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast

## 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 20111122027702A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111122027702A), Nov 22, 2011: Cessna 550, Moline, IL, Substantial damage. Pilot was ferrying the airplane from teterboro to Moline for maintenance and painting. He taxied onto the ramp and was fixated on the ground personnel who were…

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82400. 536 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 536 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40358956&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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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