# NTSB CEN23LA065: Cessna 172M, N221MF, Denton, TX, December 15, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 15, 2022, 10:56, time zone not recorded
- Place: Denton, TX · Denton Enterprise Airport
- Coordinates: 33.200556, -97.194167
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2006&lon=-97.1942&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: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA North Texas FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 106464
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA065
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106464/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106464
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA065

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from another airplane while taxing in the run-up area.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained, aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 182P, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072418), [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 182P, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2075816), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The pilot taxing N21462 stated he did not turn sharply enough when he applied power to position the airplane in the run-up area, and the airplane’s right wing struck the vertical stabilizer of N221MF which was stopped in the run-up area. The pilot of N21462 stated that his foot slipped and was not on the brake during the turn. N221MF sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer, and N21462 sustained minor damage to the right-wing tip and outboard leading edge. The pilot of N21462 said that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane that precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N221MF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N221MF), registered now, S/N 17267380, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17267380
- Year built: 1976
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: US Aviation Academy
- Registered owner: Wings Over Texas Holdings LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: DTO, Denton Enterprise
- Equipment: Unknown

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N21462](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21462), registered now, S/N 18261646, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 182 (P)
- Registry model: [Cessna 182P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182p) (registry code 2075816) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental O-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-470-series) (registry code 17026, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18261646
- Year built: 1972
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: Same as departure

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Flight instructor, aircraft N221MF; age 29; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 10, 2022; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 691 total, 624 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N221MF; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 27, 2022; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 108 total, 108 in this make and model, 47 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days
- Pilot, aircraft N21462; age 39; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2021; seat: left; flight hours: 111 total, 34 in this make and model, 75 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KDTO, 1 nm away
- METAR: KDTO 151653Z 31009G17KT 260V330 10SM CLR 09/M03 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP189 T00941028


## 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 20221215023202A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221215023202A), Dec 15, 2022: Cessna 182P, Denton, TX, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] Was parked at the run-up area for dto 36 when it was struck from behind by [privacy data omitted]. The right wing tip of [privacy data…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 17, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106464. 5.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15068342&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident_Report--CEN23LA065_462_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 744 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15031526&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos_1MF-Rel.pdf
- Pilot/operator_6120_1MF (item 3, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15068973&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident_Report--CEN23LA065_1MF_Redacted-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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