# NTSB CHI02LA086: Piper PA-28-161, N274ND, Grand Forks, ND, February 21, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 21, 2002, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Grand Forks, ND - Coordinates: 47.910934, -97.07035 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9109&lon=-97.0704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Fargo, North Dakota-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54336 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI02LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54336/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54336 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA086 ## Probable cause The student pilot not maintaining clearance from a parked van while taxiing to the parking area. The van was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - vehicle (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane struck a parked van while taxiing to the parking area. The student pilot said that while taxiing, she noticed a van pull up in front of the airplane. She said that she , "... remembered what [she] had been taught about staying on the yellow line. If [she] stayed on the yellow line, [she] would clear obstacles." She said that was watching for people that may be coming out of parked airplanes and she, "... wasn't giving that attention to [her] wingtip." The right wing of the airplane subsequently struck the parked van causing substantial damage to the airplane. In her written statement, the pilot listed no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On February 21, 2002, at 1600 central standard time, a Piper PA-28-161, N274ND, piloted by a student pilot, was substantially damaged when the right wing impacted a parked truck while taxiing at the Grand Forks International Airport, Grand Forks, North Dakota. The student pilot was taxiing to the parking area after her first solo flight. The 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions, and was not on a flight plan. The student pilot was not injured. The local flight originated about 1500. In a written statement, the pilot said that she was returning from a solo flight and was taxiing to the parking area. She said that while taxiing, she noticed a van pull up in front of the airplane. She said that she , "... remembered what [she] had been taught about staying on the yellow line. If [she] stayed on the yellow line, [she] would clear obstacles." She said that was watching for people that may be coming out of parked airplanes and she, "... wasn't giving that attention to [her] wingtip." The right wing of the airplane subsequently struck the parked van causing substantial damage to the airplane. In her written statement, the pilot listed no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N274ND](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N274ND-2011-09-12), registration cancelled 2011-09-12, S/N 2842074, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-161 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2842074 - Airframe hours: 2109 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: University of North Dakota - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, February 18, 2002, 11 hours before - Departed: GFK, Grand Forks, ND - Airport: GFK, Grand Forks Intl ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 13 total, 13 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: GFK ## 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 20020221005989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020221005989A), Feb 21, 2002: Piper PA28161, Grand Forks, ND, No damage. (-23) On February 21, 2002, a PA-28-161 aircraft registration number N274ND was taxiing to the ramp after the pilots first solo flight. While taxiing on the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54336. 397 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 397 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389156&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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.