# NTSB CHI85LA089: Beech 58P, N58PC, Grand Rapids, MI, January 18, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: January 18, 1985, 13:36 local (18:36 UTC)
- Place: Grand Rapids, MI
- Location: 42.8808° N, 85.5228° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GERALD R FORD INTL (GRR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8808&lon=-85.5228&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12988
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85LA089
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12988/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85LA089

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, driver of vehicle (contributing factor)
  - airport facilities,taxiway condition - snow covered (contributing factor)
  - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

AT 1215 EST, A GROUND VEHICLE OPERATOR (S-1) RPRTD THAT THE BRAKING ACTION WAS POOR ON THE RWYS & TAXIWAYS (TWYS). IN THE NEXT 9 MIN, 5 SNOW PLOWS WERE CLEARED ONTO TWYS A & E. A SHORT TIME LATER, THE PLT OF N58PC WAS CLEARED TO TAXI FM THE GENERAL AVIATION RAMP TO RWY 26L, BUT HE WAS NOT ISSUED INFO CONCERNING BRAKING ACTION OR OTHER TRAFFIC. WHILE HE WAS TAXIING ON TWY A, A SNOW PLOW ON TWY E CONVERGED FROM THE PLT'S LEFT. THE SNOW PLOW OPERATOR WAS WINDROWING ALREADY PLOWED SNOW. HE STAYED TO THE LEFT AS HE WENT ONTO TWY A & WAS TRAVELING AHEAD OF N58PC. THE PLT OF N58PC ALERTED GROUNDCONTROL PSNL OF THE SNOW PLOW'S PSN & STEERED HIS ACFT TO THE RGT. THE SNOW PLOW OPERATOR THEN STARTED TO MAKE A 180 DEGRGT TURN ON THE TWY, BUT STOPPED WHEN HE SAW THE ACFT. THE PLT TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT HIS LEFT WING HIT THE SNOW PLOW. THE SNOW PLOW OPERATOR SAID THERE WAS A BLIND AREA TO THE RGT SIDE OF HIS CAB WHICH MAY HAVE ATTRIBUTED TO HIS LACK OF VISION. THE TOWER CONTROLLER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR BOTH ACFT & VEHICULAR TRAFFIC PER LETTER OF AGREEMENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N58PC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N58PC-2011-12-20), registration cancelled 2011-12-20, S/N TJ-110, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58P
- Registry model: [Beech 58P](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58p) (registry code 1152744) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TJ-168
- Airframe hours: 1895
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-L 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Registered owner: Transnational Motors, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Destination: CAK, CANTON, OH
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: GRR, Kent County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 3,958 total, 946 in this make and model, 3,628 as pilot in command, 91 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 700 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GRR

## 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 19850118001039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850118001039A), Jan 18, 1985: Beech 58P, Grand Rapids, MI, Substantial damage. Snow plow turned in front of taxing aircraft. Wingtip struck blade of plow. ATC failed to advise either of traffic.

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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