# NTSB ERA10CA382: Gulfstream GIV, N905LP, New York, NY, July 27, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 27, 2010, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: New York, NY - Coordinates: 40.63972, -73.778892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6397&lon=-73.7789&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 6 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA382 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76789/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76789 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA382 ## Probable cause The flight crew’s failure to maintain adequate wing tip clearance from a light pole during taxi. ## 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 · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=3980115), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Towing and taxiing: taxiing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920/cases.md?model=3980115), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=3980115), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the first officer, the airplane was being directed to the parking area by a marshaler, who was positioned in front and to the left of the airplane. The first officer looked out his window to observe the right wing's clearance from a blast fence, but could not see the wing tip due to the sun's position behind the airplane. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the captain stated that he knew the wing was close to the fence, but the marshaler was signaling to continue. The airplane's right wing tip then impacted a light pole inside the blast fence, resulting in substantial damage. The captain stated that prior to impact, the marshaler never signaled for the flight crew to stop. The marshaler stated to the FAA inspector that she attempted to signal the captain to stop, but his head was turned to the right. The FAA inspector also reported that the first officer never advised the captain to stop the airplane or use caution. ## Factual narrative According to the first officer, the airplane was being directed to the parking area by one marshaler, who was positioned in front of, and to the left of the airplane. The first officer looked out his window to determine the right wing's clearance from a blast fence, but could not see the wingtip due to the sun's position behind the airplane. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the captain stated that he knew the wing was "close" to the fence, but the marshaler was signaling to continue. The airplane's right wingtip then impacted a light pole inside the blast fence, resulting in substantial damage. The captain stated that prior to impact, the marshaler never signaled them to stop. The marshaler stated to the FAA inspector that she attempted to signal the captain to stop, but his head "was turned to the right." The FAA inspector also reported that the first officer never advised the captain to stop the airplane or use caution in the "tight area." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N905LP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N905LP), registered now, S/N 1321, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GULFSTREAM GIV (SP) - Registry model: [Gulfstream Aerospace G-IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/gulfstream-aerospace-g-iv) (registry code 3980115) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rolls-Royce TAY-611SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rolls-royce-tay-611ser) (registry code 54561, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1321 - Airframe hours: 5434 - Engines: Rolls Royce TAY 611-8 13850 lbs thrust turbo fan; Rolls Royce TAY 611-8 13850 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Thomas H Lee Management Co, LLC - Registered owner: Thomas H Lee Management Co, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 9, 2010 - Departed: BED, Bedford, MA - Destination: JFK, New York, NY - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: JFK, John F Kennedy International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Co-pilot; age 47; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 5, 2010; seat: right; flight hours: 8,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 22, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 16,500 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 16 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: JFK ## 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 20100727039409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100727039409A), Jul 27, 2010: Gulfstream G-IV, Jamaica, NY, Substantial damage. While aircraft being parked at jfk, general aviation terminal, aircraft right wing outboard leading edge came in contact with stationary light pole, while… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 2, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76789. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 372 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335967&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40345246&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo of wing damage (Courtesy FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 625 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40335968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20wing%20damage%20(Courtesy%20FAA)-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.