# NTSB CHI06CA181: Piper PA-31-350, N40978, Indianapolis, IN, July 11, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 11, 2006, 15:25 local (19:25 UTC) - Place: Indianapolis, IN - Coordinates: 39.716667, -86.300003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7167&lon=-86.3000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 64302 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64302/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA181 ## Probable cause The failure of the tug driver to maintain clearance from the airplane taxiing on an active taxiway. A factor was the night conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - altitude/clearance - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause) - light condition - night (contributing factor) ## Analysis A tug used to move ground carts collided with the left side of a twin-engine airplane while the airplane was taxiing on an active taxiway at night. The air traffic control (ATC) tower had cleared the airplane to taxi to the active runway via Delta taxiway. The airplane collided with the tug at the intersection of Delta taxiway and a service road. The tug was pulling five carts and was traveling from left to right through the intersection. The pilot reported that after the collision he saw a ground vehicle under the left engine and initially thought it was an abandoned vehicle because he did not see any lights on the vehicle. The pilot notified ATC concerning the collision, and then shut down the airplane. The tug driver reported that he stopped before entering the intersection and did not see any of the airplane's lights. ## Factual narrative A tug used to move ground carts collided with the left side of a twin-engine airplane while the airplane was taxiing on an active taxiway at night. The air traffic control (ATC) tower had cleared the airplane to taxi to the active runway via Delta taxiway. The airplane collided with the tug at the intersection of Delta taxiway and a service road. The tug was pulling five carts and was traveling from left to right through the intersection. The pilot reported that after the collision he saw a ground vehicle under the left engine and initially thought it was an abandoned vehicle because he did not see any lights on the vehicle. The pilot notified ATC concerning the collision, and then shut down the airplane. The tug driver reported that he stopped before entering the intersection and did not see any of the airplane's lights. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40978](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N40978), registered now, S/N 31-8152199, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-8152199 - Engines: Lycoming TIO-540 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Registered owner: AirNet Systems - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: IND, Indianapolis, IN - Destination: IND, Indianapolis, IN - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: IND, Indianapolis International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; flight hours: 1,319 total, 63 in this make and model, 136 in the last 90 days, 83 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night ## 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 20060711022179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060711022179A), Jul 11, 2006: Piper PA31350, Indianapolis, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 11, 2006, airnet inc. flight #503, PA31, while taxiing at ind collided with a tug vehicle at the intersection between taxiway delta and the… ## Other investigations on N40978 (1) 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. - [NTSB NYC89FA093](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA093), Mar 2, 1989: Piper PA-31-350 (N40978), Toms River, NJ, substantial damage. Probable cause: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED AND CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT, AND HIS EXCEEDING THE DESIGN STRESS LIMITS OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: AUTOPLT MALFUNCTION DUE TO… 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.