# NTSB ERA13CA278: Piper PA-46-500TP, N21EP, West Palm Beach, FL, June 3, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 3, 2013, 06:20 local (10:20 UTC)
- Place: West Palm Beach, FL
- Coordinates: 26.646389, -80.294166 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6464&lon=-80.2942&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87150
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA278
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87150/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87150
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA278

## Probable cause

The pilot’s diversion of attention while taxiing the airplane, which resulted in his failure to maintain directional control and collision with a ditch.

## Findings

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

- [Workload management](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064000/cases.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02064000/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-to runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-to runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA46-500TP, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7104622), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was taxiing to the runway while adjusting the flight instruments for takeoff when the airplane drifted left of the taxiway centerline and struck a culvert. After performing a visual inspection of the airframe and determining that all systems functioned normally, the pilot elected to continue to the runway and complete the flight as planned. The following day, an inspection of the airplane performed by a mechanic revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated that he should not have started taxiing the airplane or attempted to “multi-task” while taxiing.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was taxiing to the runway while adjusting the flight instruments for takeoff when the airplane drifted left of the taxiway centerline and struck a culvert. After performing a visual inspection of the airframe and determining that all systems functioned normally, the pilot elected to continue to the runway and complete the flight as planned. The following day, an inspection of the airplane performed by a mechanic revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated that he should not have started taxiing the airplane or attempted to “multi-task” while taxiing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N21EP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21EP), registered now, S/N 4697500, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-500TP
- Registry model: [Piper PA46-500TP](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa46-500tp) (registry code 7104622) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-42a) (registry code 52268, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4697500
- Airframe hours: 66
- Engines: Pratt and Whitney turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, November 21, 2012, 77 hours before
- Departed: FD38, West Palm Beach, FL
- Destination: VRB, Vero Beach, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: FD38, Wellington Aero Club Airport, runway 34, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 2,317 total, 170 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observed at: PBI, 10 nm away

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87150. 3.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 830 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394696&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 157 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395606&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Pilot-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 3, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40394695&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF
- Photo 1: Picture of Right Wing of Accident Airplane in Hangar (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395607&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Picture%20of%20Right%20Wing%20of%20Accident%20Airplane%20in%20Hangar%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2: Picture of Accident Airplane Left Wing and Part of Right Wing in Hangar (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40395519&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Picture%20of%20Accident%20Airplane%20Left%20Wing%20and%20Part%20of%20Right%20Wing%20in%20Hangar%20(Courtesy%20of%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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