# NTSB CEN22LA149: Cessna 208B, N78SA, Grapevine, TX, March 18, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 17, 2022, 21:00 local (Mar 18, 2022, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Grapevine, TX · On the airport while taxiing
- Coordinates: 32.883344, -97.047607 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8833&lon=-97.0476&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104818
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104818/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104818
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA149

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The failure of the pilot of the second aircraft to maintain a safe distance from the lead airplane while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision.

## 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), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 208B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2073701), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The pilot reported that while taxiing to the ramp for parking behind another airplane, the airplane in front of him suddenly stopped and he impacted that airplane from the rear. He said that all he heard was the propeller of his airplane hitting the tail of the airplane in front of him. He immediately shut down the engine of his airplane and the airplane that had been struck taxied to the ramp and parked. The airplane that was impacted sustained substantial damage to the tail and the other airplane sustained minor damage. There were no reported preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures to either airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N78SA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78SA), registered now, S/N 208B0467, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208B0467
- Year built: 1995
- Airframe hours: 14727
- Engines: P&W PT6A SER 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Martinaire Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Martinaire Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, November 2, 2021
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: DFW, Dallas Ft. Worth
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N9469B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9469B), registered now, S/N 208B0079, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208B0079
- Year built: 1988
- Airframe hours: 17576
- Engines: P&W PT6A SERIES 500 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 135
- Operator: Martinaire Aviation LLC
- Registered owner: Martinaire Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, January 18, 2022
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Onboard weather, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N78SA; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review February 11, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,271 total, 63 in this make and model, 1,096 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N9469B; age 70; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 18,902 total, 3,902 in this make and model, 13,902 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 48 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: 360° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KDFW, 2 nm away
- METAR: KDFW 190153Z 36005KT 10SM FEW250 14/M03 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP179 T01441033

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20220318021792A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220318021792A), Mar 18, 2022: Cessna 208B, Dfw, TX, Minor damage. On 3/18/2022 at approximately 2054HRS a CE-208 caravan, registration #[privacy data omitted] landed at Dfw Airport. During taxi back to his parking spot, the…
- [Accident 20220318003861A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220318003861A), Mar 18, 2022: Cessna 208B, Dfw, TX, Substantial damage. On 3/18/2022 at approximately 2054HRS a CE-208 caravan, registration # N78SA landed at Dfw Airport. During taxi back to his parking spot, the pilot, states…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 25, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104818. 9.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 22 pages, 7.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13721116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20R_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13721263&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 345 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13713933&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20Pics%20-Rel.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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