# NTSB ERA19TA146: Cessna 172, N4335R, Fort Myers, FL, March 30, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Final report - Date: March 29, 2019, 21:00 local (Mar 30, 2019, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Fort Myers, FL - Coordinates: 26.586666, -81.863334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5867&lon=-81.8633&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99239 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19TA146 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99239/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99239 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19TA146 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to remain clear of a light pole while taxiing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [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 According to a lineperson at the airport, the airplane was taxiing toward four fuel trucks to park. The lineperson then exited one of the trucks with wands, got the pilot's attention, and walked north away from the trucks to direct the pilot to a safer parking area. He then signaled for the pilot to taxi toward him, but the airplane continued north-northwest toward the trucks, and the engine revved to a high rpm. The lineperson then motioned for the airplane to slow and move away from the trucks; however, the airplane continued to taxi toward the trucks. The lineperson signaled stop and yelled "stop" several times. The airplane did not stop, and its left wing struck a light pole near one of the trucks. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. Although the pilot stated that while parking on the ramp parking area, a lineperson provided directions to taxi, which led the airplane's left wing to collide with a light pole, the airport director of operations reported that the pilot could not recall any of the wand signals that he was provided. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2019, about 2100 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N4335R, was substantially damaged during taxi after landing at Page Field (FMY), Fort Myers, Florida. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that departed Miami Executive Airport (TMB), Miami, Florida, about 1930. The pilot stated that while parking on the ramp parking area, a lineperson provided directions to taxi, which led the airplane's left wing to collide with a light pole. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. The lineperson stated that he was in a parked Avgas truck, next to three Jet A trucks, preparing to drive to a hangar and complete a fueling when he heard the accident airplane taxiing toward him and it appeared that airplane was going to park in front of the three Jet A trucks. The lineperson then exited the truck with wands, was able to get the pilot's attention, and walked north away from the trucks to direct the pilot to a safer parking area. He then signaled for the pilot to taxi toward him, but the airplane moved north – northwest, still toward the trucks, and the engine revved to a high rpm. The lineperson then motioned for the airplane to slow and move away from the trucks; however, the airplane continued to taxi toward the trucks. The lineperson then signaled stop and yelled "stop" several times. The airplane did not stop and its left wing struck a light pole near the Avgas truck. The airport director of operations reported that he interviewed the pilot after the accident and the pilot could not recall any of the wand signals that he was provided. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed damage to the left wing spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4335R (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (M) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263088 - Year built: 1974 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot Training Center Llc - Registered owner: Pilot Training Center Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 29, 2019, 8,718 hours before - Departed: TMB, Miami, FL - Destination: FMY, Fort Myers, FL - Airport: FMY, Page Field - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 2, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 126 total, 109 in this make and model, 70 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 53 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: FMY ## 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 20190330002219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190330002219A), Mar 30, 2019: Cessna 172M, Ft. Myers, FL, Substantial damage. On March 30, 2019 at approximately 2100 EDT aircraft N4335R, Cessna 172M s/n 17263088 had landed at Page Field in fort Myers, FL (fmy). While taxiing to… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 1, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99239. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472330&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Drawing of Accident Scene (item 2, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Drawing%20of%20Accident%20Scene-Master.PDF - Lineperson Statements (item 3, .PDF, 232 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472332&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Lineperson%20Statements-Master.PDF - Manager of Airport Operations Statement (item 4, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Manager%20of%20Airport%20Operations%20Statement-Master.PDF - Interview Summary (item 5, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472334&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 6, .PDF, 3 photos, 459 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.