# NTSB ERA15CA113: Cessna 172I, N35560, Nashua, NH, January 23, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 23, 2015, 12:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place: Nashua, NH
- Coordinates: 42.781387, -71.514167
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7814&lon=-71.5142&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 7, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 90645
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA113
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90645/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90645
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA113

## Probable cause

The student pilot's lack of vigilance during taxi, which resulted in a collision with a parked truck. A factor in the accident was the truck operator's decision to park on the edge of an active taxiway.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172I, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: [Cessna 172I, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072426), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the flight school operator, the solo, student pilot was directed by air traffic control to taxi via taxiway Charlie and the inner ramp to the parking area. A fence construction company truck was parked on the edge of the active taxiway while the personnel inside the truck were having lunch. As the pilot taxied the airplane past the truck, while on the yellow taxi line, the left wing struck the upper cab of the truck. The pilot reported that she did not see the truck prior to the collision and it was parked in the shadow of a building. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the collision resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. FAA Advisory Circular 91-73B, which provides guidance on single pilot taxi operations, states, "Situational Awareness (SA). When conducting taxi operations, pilots need to be aware of their proximity to other aircraft and vehicles moving on the airport."

## Factual narrative

According to the flight school operator, the solo, student pilot was directed by air traffic control to taxi via taxiway Charlie and the inner ramp to the parking area. A fence construction company truck was parked on the edge of the active taxiway while the personnel inside the truck were having lunch. As the pilot taxied the airplane past the truck, while on the yellow taxi line, the left wing struck the upper cab of the truck. The pilot reported that she did not see the truck prior to the collision and it was parked in the shadow of a building. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the collision resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The student pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. FAA Advisory Circular 91-73B, which provides guidance on single pilot taxi operations, states, "Situational Awareness (SA). When conducting taxi operations, pilots need to be aware of their proximity to other aircraft and vehicles moving on the airport."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35560](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35560), registered now, S/N 17256835, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172I
- Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17256835
- Year built: 1968
- Airframe hours: 8277
- Engines: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Ronald L. Emond, doing business as Air Direct Airways Flight Academy
- Registered owner: Boette Scott
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 31, 2014, 78 hours before
- Departed: ORH, Worcester, MA
- Destination: ASH, Nashua, NH
- Airport: ASH, Boire Field
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 29; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 56 total, 56 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 34 °F, dew point 16 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: ASH

## 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 20150123009109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150123009109A), Jan 23, 2015: Cessna 172I, Nashua, NH, Substantial damage. After returning from a solo cross country flight for training toward a private pilot certificate, the student pilot was cleared to parking via the inner…

## Docket (7 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90645. 3.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 787 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424453&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum of Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424454&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF
- ASH Airport Incident Report (item 3, .PDF, 10 photos, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424455&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ASH%20Airport%20Incident%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- ASH Airport Diagram (item 4, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424456&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=ASH%20Airport%20Diagram-Master.PDF
- Accident Diagram 1 – Provided by ASH Airport Authority (item 5, .PDF, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424457&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Diagram%201%20%E2%80%93%20Provided%20by%20ASH%20Airport%20Authority-Master.PDF
- Accident Diagram 2 – Provided by ASH Airport Authority (item 6, .PDF, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424458&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Diagram%202%20%E2%80%93%20Provided%20by%20ASH%20Airport%20Authority-Master.PDF
- FAA Advisory Circular 91-73B (item 7, .PDF, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40424459&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Advisory%20Circular%2091-73B-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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