# NTSB ERA11LA100: Cessna 172, N1348L, St. Thomas, December 13, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 13, 2010, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: St. Thomas - Coordinates: 18.335506, -64.895469 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.3355&lon=-64.8955&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 December 1, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 78074 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78074/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78074 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA100 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout while taxiing. ## 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: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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 172S, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was told that he had to reposition the airplane. While taxiing to an other area, he became fixated on staying clear of a jet on the ramp which had its engines running. He did not notice a white baggage cart that was parked on the ramp, and the airplane's left wing contacted the baggage cart, resulting in substantial damage. ## Factual narrative On December 13, 2010, at 1230 atlantic standard time, a Cessna 172S, N1348L, collided with a baggage cart while taxiing at the Cyril E. King Airport (STT), Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was registered to Flight World Inc., and operated by Isla Grande Flying School and Service Corporation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (TUPJ), British Virgin Islands, about 1200. The pilot stated that he had flown three legs to deliver cargo to different islands. Prior to departing from TUPJ, he received a phone call from the chief pilot requesting that he fly to STT. The chief pilot stated that he had filed an international flight plan for the pilot, and customs was awaiting his arrival at STT. After landing at STT, while taxiing to the foreign arrivals customs area, he became fixated on staying clear of a jet on the ramp which had its engines running. He did not notice a white baggage cart which was parked on the ramp, and the airplane's left wing contacted the baggage cart, resulting in substantial damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1348L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1348L), registered now, S/N 172S9939, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S9939 - Airframe hours: 906 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Isla Grande Flying School - Registered owner: Flight World, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TUPJ, Tortola - Destination: STT, St Thomas - Airport: STT, Cyril E King Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 2, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 611 total, 402 in this make and model, 491 as pilot in command, 137 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: STT ## 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 20101213054219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101213054219A), Dec 13, 2010: Cessna 172S, St Thomas, VI, Substantial damage. On December 13, 2010 the pilot in command (PIC) fernando l. colon[privacy data omitted] a commercial pilot of a Cessna 172-S aircraft registration number… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78074. 659 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 569 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348899&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 41 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40348900&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.