# NTSB ERA09CA391: Cessna 172RG, N751DW, Morristown, NJ, July 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 4, 2009, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Morristown, NJ - Coordinates: 40.799446, -74.414718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7994&lon=-74.4147&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74240 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA391 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74240/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74240 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA391 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a parked aircraft during taxi operations. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172RG, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072438), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the completion of a local instructional flight, the flight instructor taxied the airplane from the right seat, "on centerline," with the engine power at idle. As he taxied between two parked airplanes, he struck the airplane parked to his right, and damaged the right wing rib of his airplane. The parked airplane sustained minor damage. The instructor said that he "let his guard down" and that there was nothing wrong with the performance and handling of his airplane. ## Factual narrative At the completion of a local instructional flight, the flight instructor taxied the airplane from the right seat, "on centerline," with the engine power at idle. As he taxied between two parked airplanes, he struck the airplane parked to his right, and damaged the right wing rib of his airplane. The parked airplane sustained minor damage. The instructor said that he "let his guard down" and that there was nothing wrong with the performance and handling of his airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N751DW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N751DW), registered now, S/N 172RG1002, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG1002 - Airframe hours: 10489 - Engines: Lycoming O360 F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Ameriflyers of Florida LLC, doing business as American Flyers - Registered owner: Ameriflyers of Florida LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 16, 2009, 50 hours before - Departed: MGJ, Montgomery, NY - Destination: MMU, Morristown, NJ - Airport: MMU, Morristown Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2008; seat: right; flight hours: 450 total, 77 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 131 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: MMU ## Other investigations on N751DW (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 CEN24LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA211), May 22, 2024: Cessna 172RG (N751DW), Chandeleur Island, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A fatigue failure of the engine oil pressure line, which resulted in the loss of engine oil during the flight and subsequent damage to the nose landing gear support structure during the precautionary… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 18, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74240. 939 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317129&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Digital Photograph Provided by American Flyers. View Showing Damage to Right Wing Rib. (item 4, .PDF, 252 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317057&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Digital%20Photograph%20Provided%20by%20American%20Flyers.%20View%20Showing%20Damage%20to%20Right%20Wing%20Rib.-Master.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.