# NTSB DEN00LA178: Piper PA-28-235, N9281W, Broomfield, CO, September 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 2000, 11:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Broomfield, CO - Coordinates: 39.939075, -105.06047 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9391&lon=-105.0605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50344 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50344/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA178 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a vehicle parked beside the ramp while he was taxiing the aircraft from landing. ## 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 - object - vehicle - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While taxiing from landing at the completion of a cross-country flight, the aircraft was taxiing through a NOTAM'd non-movement construction area on the ramp and struck a small tractor which was parked on the grass adjacent to the ramp. The collision ruptured the left wing tip fuel tank causing a fuel spill. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 2000, at 1100 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28-235, N9281W, sustained substantial damage while taxiing from landing at Jefferson County Airport, Broomfield, Colorado, when it struck a tractor in a non-movement area. The certified flight instructor and sole occupant was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this personal flight operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Boulder, Colorado, at 1030. According to the accident notification from Jefferson County Air Traffic Control Tower, the collision ruptured a wing tip fuel tank causing a fuel spill. According to the pilot, he was taxiing on the ramp and maneuvering between a Mooney and a tractor (which was parked on the grass beside the ramp). The pilot said his left wing struck the tractor rupturing the wing tip fuel tank. The pilot reported the collision to ground control and shut down the aircraft. Ground crew used an absorbent material to soak up the fuel and the aircraft was towed to parking. The tractor was not damaged, but did have fuel spilled on it. Documents supplied by The New Piper Aircraft Company provided information that on the PA-28-235, the fuel tanks consist of one aluminum tank located in the inboard leading edge section of each wing plus fiberglass tanks located in each wing tip. The main tanks have a capacity of 25 gallons each and the tip tanks each hold a maximum of 17 gallons. The attached diagrams, supplied by Piper Aircraft, provide information that the tip tanks are an integral part of the wing structure. According to Jefferson County Airport personnel, the non-movement construction area was advertised under a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9281W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9281W-2019-12-02), registration cancelled 2019-12-02, S/N 28-10956, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-235 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-235) (registry code 7102810) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-10956 - Airframe hours: 4150 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-B4B5 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James F. Kettering - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 24, 2000, 35 hours before - Departed: IV5, BOULDER, CO - Destination: BJC - Airport: BJC, Jefferson County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,290 total, 500 in this make and model, 1,180 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 5 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: BJC, 1 nm away ## 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 20000926015569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000926015569A), Sep 26, 2000: Piper PA28235, Denver, CO, No damage. (-23) On September 26, 2000, at 1230 MDT, a Piper PA-28-235, N9281W, sustained substantial damage while taxiing from landing at jefferson county airport,… 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.