# NTSB ERA10CA491: Mooney M20J, N1156U, Hazard, KY, September 15, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 15, 2010, 15:07 local (19:07 UTC)
- Place: Hazard, KY
- Coordinates: 37.385833, -83.256942 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.3858&lon=-83.2569&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 5, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77358
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA491
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77358/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77358
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA491

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fuel pump while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/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: [Mooney M20J, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that after landing he was taxiing the airplane to the parking ramp. With the self-service pumps clearly visible on the right side of the airplane, he taxied past them and reached over to open the cabin door. He sneezed twice and the airplane drifted right. The right wing impacted the fuel pump, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. Two witnesses who observed the accident reported that the airplane was taxiing fast. Review of security camera footage revealed that there were no obstructions in the immediate vicinity of the fuel pump. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was taxiing to the parking ramp after landing, and the self-serve fuel pump was "clearly visible" on the right side of the airplane. As the airplane approached the fuel pump, the pilot reached over to open the cabin door and sneezed twice. The airplane "drifted right," and the right wing impacted the fuel pump, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. Two witnesses who observed the accident reported that the airplane was taxiing "fast" and "quickly" respectively. Review of security camera footage revealed that there were no obstructions in the immediate vicinity of the fuel pump. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1156U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1156U), registered now, S/N 24-1253, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (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: 24-1253
- Airframe hours: 3500
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2009
- Departed: 27K, Georgetown, KY
- Destination: K20, Hazard, KY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: K20, Wendell H Ford Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: JKL, 12 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 20100915048329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100915048329A), Sep 15, 2010: Mooney M20J, Hazard, KY, Substantial damage. While taxiing to parking, aircraft collided with fuel farm. Aircraft substantially damaged. No post event fire.

## Other investigations on N1156U (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 NYC82DA213](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82DA213), Aug 26, 1982: Mooney M20J (N1156U), Matawan, NJ, substantial damage

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77358. 7.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 537 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Surveillance Video of Accident (item 2, MOV, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338220&FileExtension=mov&FileName=Surveillance%20Video%20of%20Accident-Master
- Memorandum for Record - Witness Interviews (item 3, .PDF, 27 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338233&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Witness%20Interviews-Master.PDF
- Photo of damage to right wing (Courtesy FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338231&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20of%20damage%20to%20right%20wing%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.

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