# NTSB FTW00LA150: Piper PA-31T1, N301TA, Houston, TX, May 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 2000, 11:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Houston, TX - Coordinates: 29.649564, -95.279754 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6496&lon=-95.2798&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49255 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49255/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA150 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors were the partially engaged parking brake and the pilot's diverted attention to the engine instruments. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, standing - starting engine(s) - landing gear,parking brake - not engaged (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - aircraft parked/standing ## Analysis The pilot reported that the parking brake was set, the left engine of the multiengine airplane was running, and he was starting the right engine. After the right engine started, the pilot checked the engine instruments. The pilot was unaware that the airplane was moving forward on the ramp. The airplane traveled approximately 75 feet, and the right engine impacted the propeller of a parked, unoccupied single-engine airplane. Post-accident examination revealed that the parking brake of the multiengine airplane was not completely engaged. ## Factual narrative On May 21, 2000, at 1150 central daylight time, a Piper PA-31T1 twin-engine airplane, N301TA, was substantially damaged when it taxied into a parked airplane on the ramp at the William P. Hobby Airport near Houston, Texas. The private pilot and the two passengers were not injured. The aircraft was owned by TAR Air Corporation, of Bedford, Massachusetts, and was leased to the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an IFR flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The proposed destination for the cross-country flight was Lufkin, Texas. According to the 2,600-hour pilot, the parking brake was set, the left engine was running, and he was starting the right engine. After the right engine started, the pilot checked the engine instruments. The pilot was unaware that the airplane was moving forward on the ramp. According to witness statements, the airplane traveled approximately 75 feet, and the right engine impacted the propeller of a parked, unoccupied Beech Bonanza single-engine airplane, N9968P. According to the pilot and the FAA inspector, who examined the airplane, the parking brake was not completely engaged. The right engine's outboard lower mount was pulled from the firewall and the left side of the firewall was buckled. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N301TA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N301TA-2020-12-31), registration cancelled 2020-12-31, S/N 31T7904041, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-31T1 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31T1](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t1) (registry code 7103126) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-45) (registry code 52105, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7904041 - Engines: P&W PT6A-11 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ralph E. Norton - Registered owner: Tar Air Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: HOU - Destination: LFK, LUFKIN, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HOU, William P. Hobby ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,653 total, 53 in this make and model, 2,453 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 20000521023389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000521023389A), May 21, 2000: Piper PA31T1, Houston, TX, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft. Factors were the partially engaged parking brake and the pilot's diverted attention to the engine… 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.