# NTSB ERA26LA068: Piper PA-28-181, N620AC, Fort Pierce, FL, December 11, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: December 11, 2025, 10:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL
- Coordinates: 27.488684, -80.366289 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4887&lon=-80.3663&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 29, 2026
- 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): 202152
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA068
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202152/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202152
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA068

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate visual lookout while taxing, which resulted in the airplane striking a light 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: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=7102807), [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-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the flight his seat had lowered and resulted in reduced forward visibility. After landing the pilot taxied back to the ramp and attempted to locate the designated parking spot for the airplane. While attempting to locate the parking spot, airplane’s left wing struck a light pole, which substantially damaged it. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N620AC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N620AC), registered now, S/N 2843755, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2843755
- Year built: 2014
- Airframe hours: 8252.1
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ari Ben Aviator Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection: 100 hour, October 14, 2025, 84.1 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: FPR, Treasure Coast Intl
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 7, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,027.3 total, 768.8 in this make and model, 1,945.4 as pilot in command, 158.8 in the last 90 days, 38.7 in the last 30 days, 5.9 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: FPR, 1 nm away
- METAR: METAR KFPR 111753Z 30009G17KT 10SM CLR 22/12 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP164 T02170122 10222 20083 58018

## 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 20251211019179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251211019179A), Dec 11, 2025: Piper PA-28-181, Ft. Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted] – FAA narrative: On December 11, 2025, the instructor pilot (PIC) and student were taxiing back to the ramp on taxiway xx. While…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202152. 8.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19830925&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 635 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19830935&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 567 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19831443&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.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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