# NTSB ERA15CA093: Piper PA-46-350P, N657MC, Apalachicola, FL, January 1, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 1, 2015, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Apalachicola, FL
- Coordinates: 29.7275, -85.025833 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7275&lon=-85.0258&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: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90576
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90576/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90576
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA093

## Probable cause

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in the airplane striking a pole.

## 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: [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: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After landing, the pilot taxied to the fixed base operator to park. As he approached the parking ramp, a lineman stood in front of a tie-down spot and raised both hands in the air signaling to the pilot where to park. The spot was next to a parked jet. The pilot said that while taxing to the parking spot he was concentrating on staying clear of the jet and did not see a light pole located at the edge of the ramp. The right wing struck the pole resulting in structural damage to the wing.

## Factual narrative

After landing, the pilot taxied to the fixed base operator to park. As he approached the parking ramp, a lineman stood in front of a tie-down spot and raised both hands in the air signaling to the pilot where to park. The spot was next to a parked jet. The pilot said that while taxing to the parking spot he was concentrating on staying clear of the jet and did not see a light pole located at the edge of the ramp. The right wing struck the pole resulting in structural damage to the wing.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N657MC (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-46-350P
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 4622007
- Year built: 1988
- Engines: LYCOMING TI0-540 SER 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Chicola Monty V
- Registered owner: Chicola Monty V
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: PNS, Pensacola, FL
- Destination: AAF, Apalachicola, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: AAF, Apalachicola Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 2,633 total, 1,545 in this make and model, 2,633 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F
- Observed at: AAF

## 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 20150101000039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150101000039A), Jan 1, 2015: Piper PA 46-350P, Apalachicola, FL, Substantial damage. During taxi to a designated area to park, hit pole on leading edge, about middle of left wing.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 28, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90576. 1.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Chris Stokes (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427114&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Chris%20Stokes-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - John Moore (item 3, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427115&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20John%20Moore-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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