# NTSB ERA15LA224: Cessna 337, N1732M, Melbourne, FL, May 27, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2015, 16:25 local (20:25 UTC) - Place: Melbourne, FL - Coordinates: 28.106945, -80.659721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1069&lon=-80.6597&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 91254 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15LA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91254/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91254 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA224 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while taxiing as a result of his impairment due to alcohol ingestion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Cessna 337F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Impairment/incapacitation: alcohol](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 87 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02012015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate; cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 337F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2075725), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While taxiing, the private pilot did not follow the controller's instructions and his speech was slurred. The airplane then taxied off the end of a taxiway and turned right toward a building that was located about 200 ft away and abeam the taxiway end. The airplane impacted the building and an adjacent communications antenna, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. Law enforcement personnel arrived about 15 minutes later and detected an odor of alcohol from the pilot. A search of the airplane revealed an unopened bottle of wine, one half-full bottle of liquor, and an open water bottle that contained a clear liquid with an odor of alcohol. The pilot refused to take an alcohol breathalyzer and field sobriety test. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged under a state statute for operation of an aircraft while intoxicated. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2015, at 1625 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 337F, N1732M, was substantially damaged when it struck a building and a communications antenna while taxiing at the Melbourne International Airport (MLB), Melbourne, Florida. The pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the personal flight, which was destined for Dayton, Ohio. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to a police report, the pilot requested a taxi clearance from the north ramp area to runway 9L. The tower controller advised the pilot that his clearance to Dayton, Ohio had expired, and instructed him to return to the ramp. The pilot's speech was "slurred" and he did not follow any of the controller's instructions. The pilot then taxied west on taxiway kilo toward the departure end of runway 9L. The airplane then went off the end of the taxiway and immediately turned right toward a building that was located about 200 feet away and abeam the taxiway end. The airplane impacted the building and an adjacent communications antenna. At 1626, the controller contacted the airport police and urged them to respond quickly because he "felt that the pilot may be intoxicated and they heard the screams of a young child onboard." The police arrived on scene at 1640 and detected an odor of alcohol from the pilot. A search of the airplane revealed an unopened bottle of wine, one opened bottle of liquor about half full and an opened "water" bottle that contained a clear liquid with an odor of alcohol. After the pilot refused to take an alcohol breathalyzer and field sobriety test he was taken into custody and charged under Florida State Statute with "Operation of an aircraft while intoxicated or in a careless or reckless manner." According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the airplane came to rest against a small building located along the airport perimeter fence. The leading edge of the left wing sustained substantial damage, and the front engine propeller tips were bent forward and gouged. The aircraft examination was completed by an airframe and powerplant mechanic and supervised by the airport operations director. Examination of the flight control systems, nosewheel steering, and brake system revealed no anomalies that could have precluded normal operation. The pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine land, multiengine land (limited to centerline thrust) and instrument Airplane. He also held a third-class medical certificate, which was issued on November 13, 2014 with a limitation of "must wear corrective lenses." At that time, he reported 1,238 total flight hours experience. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1732M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1732M), registered now, S/N 33701332, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 337 (F) - Registry model: [Cessna 337F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-337f) (registry code 2075725) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-360-series) (registry code 17025, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 33701332 - Year built: 1970 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-360 SER 210 horsepower reciprocating; CONT MOTOR IO-360 SER 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MLB, Melbourne, FL - Destination: Dayton, OH - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: MLB, Melbourne Intl - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 1,238 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KMLB, 1 nm away ## 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 20150527010409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150527010409A), May 27, 2015: Cessna 337F, Melbourne, FL, Substantial damage. On may 27, 2015 approximately 4:15 pm [privacy data omitted] pilot of N1732M a Cessna 337 collided into a stationary satellite dish and building. Pilot… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 14, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91254. 1.9 MB in all. - Excerpts from Police Report (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464094&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpts%20from%20Police%20Report-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464095&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Conversation with FAA Inspector and Airport Operations Director (item 3, .PDF, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Conversation%20with%20FAA%20Inspector%20and%20Airport%20Operations%20Director-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.