# NTSB ERA13LA381: Cessna 172N, N5232D, Miami, FL, August 26, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2013, 07:20 local (11:20 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.647499, -80.433334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6475&lon=-80.4333&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 87876 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA381 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87876/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87876 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA381 ## Probable cause The pilot’s incapacitation due to a seizure during taxi. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Impairment/incapacitation: other loss of consciousness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055): Personnel issues › Physical · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012055/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: [Cessna 172N, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that the last thing he remembered regarding the accident sequence was taxiing the airplane to the ramp hold position and then contacting air traffic ground control. He stated that he then lost consciousness. He regained consciousness after his airplane collided with another airplane parked on the ramp. He reported that he had never lost consciousness before this event. A witness reported observing the pilot having a seizure while he was taxiing the airplane, and emergency responders reported that the pilot was confused and drowsy for a period of time following the event, consistent with the pilot having experienced a seizure. The pilot did not have any waivers or limitations on his medical certificate. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2013, about 0720 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N5232D, collided with a parked airplane after the pilot reported that he lost consciousness while taxiing at the Kendall-Tamiami Executive Airport (TMB), Miami, Florida. The student pilot was not injured and airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was registered to Three Seas Aviation LLC., and operated by ADF Airways under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a training flight. The pilot stated that prior to the accident he was fully rested and performed a preflight inspection of airplane. He then taxied to the ramp hold position and contacted air traffic ground control for taxi instructions and that was the last thing he remembered. He lost consciousness and regained consciousness after his airplane collided with another airplane on the ramp. The pilot stated that he did not know why he lost consciousness and that it had never happened to him before. He went on to say that he never had any history of seizures, fainting or losing of consciousness before this event. An examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane collided with the left engine of parked airplane. The accident airplane's engine mount and firewall were buckled. A review of the pilot's most recent medical evaluation dated May 8, 2013, for his third class medical certificate revealed that the pilot was in good health. After the accident the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Aerospace Medicine denied his application until further review. A review of the student pilot's medical file revealed that the 18 year old held a third class medical certificate dated May 8, 2013. Further review of the student pilot's medical file revealed that the student pilot did not have any waivers or limitations. The student pilot was observed to have a grand mal seizure while taxiing. He was noted to be postictal (an altered state of consciousness occurring after a seizure characterized by drowsiness and confusion) when evaluated by emergency medical service. Work up thus far has included an emergency room visit with a normal head computed tomography and normal electrolytes. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5232D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5232D), registered now, S/N 17272461, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 680143 - Year built: 1979 - Airframe hours: 7912 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: ADF Airways - Registered owner: Three Seas AviationLLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 10, 2013, 144 hours before - Departed: TMB, Miami, FL - Destination: TMB, Miami, FL - Airport: TMB, Kendall-Tamiami Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 18; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 40 total, 40 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: TMB ## 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 20130826017622A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130826017622A), Aug 26, 2013: Cessna 172N, Kendall Tamiami, FL, Substantial damage. On morning of 08/26/2013 the pilot of N5232D taxied the aircraft from the ramp of adf airways heading out to do some training. Before the pilot could enter the… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87876. 5.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404492&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 414 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Aircraft logbook pages (item 3, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404443&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Aircraft%20logbook%20pages-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Ramp Attendant (item 4, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427095&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Ramp%20Attendant-Master.PDF - Miami Dade Accident Report (item 5, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miami%20Dade%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Miami Dade Fire Rescue Dispatch Report (item 6, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427098&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miami%20Dade%20Fire%20Rescue%20Dispatch%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Engine Cowling (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Engine%20Cowling%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Propeller bent upwards on engine cowling (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40404459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Propeller%20bent%20upwards%20on%20engine%20cowling%20(Photo%20Courtesy%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. --- 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.