# NTSB ERA20CA140: Cessna 172, N536ND, Palm Coast, FL, January 8, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report
- Date: January 8, 2020, 07:47 local (12:47 UTC)
- Place: Palm Coast, FL
- Coordinates: 29.465278, -81.207778 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4653&lon=-81.2078&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101125
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA140
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101125/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101125
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA140

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The student pilot's failure to allow adequate separation when passing the parked airplane, which resulted in a ground collision.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 63 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01060000/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 23 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

A student pilot was taxiing his airplane into the runup area at what he thought was a safe distance from another airplane that was performing a runup. The moving airplane's left wing contacted the stationary airplane's propeller, resulting in substantial damage to the moving airplane's left wing. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N536ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N536ND), registered now, S/N 172S10932, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S10932
- Year built: 2009
- Airframe hours: 8920.7
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation, LLC
- Registered owner: Phoenix East Aviation, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 20, 2019, 63 hours before
- Departed: FIN, Palm Coast, FL
- Destination: FIN, Palm Coast, FL
- Airport: FIN, Flagler Executive
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N550ND](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N550ND), registered now, S/N 172S10992, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (S)
- Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-L2A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-l2a) (registry code 41597, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 172S10992
- Year built: 2009
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-L2A reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: Phoenix East Aviation, LLC
- Registered owner: Phoenix East Aviation, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed: FIN, Palm Coast, FL
- Destination: FIN, Palm Coast, FL
- Airport: FIN, Flagler Executive

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot, aircraft N536ND; age 24; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 54 total, 54 in this make and model, 6 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Student pilot, aircraft N550ND; age 24; injuries: none; student; seat: left; restraint: lap only

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observed at: FIN

## 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 20200108010292A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200108010292A), Jan 8, 2020: Cessna 172S, Palm Coast, FL, Substantial damage. A student pilot was taxiing his airplane into the runup area at what he thought was a safe distance from another airplane that was performing a runup. The…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101125. 1.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 956 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486621&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 31 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486622&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Photos (item 3, .PDF, 303 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486623&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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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