- Date
- November 15, 2001, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Galveston, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N60TTPiper PA-32-300
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 2002
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20011115030079A
- Case key
- 53800
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's failure to set the parking brake before exiting the aircraft to remove the wheel chocks.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had flown the airplane four days prior to the accident date, and after that flight, had inadvertently left the airplane's electrical master switch "ON," which resulted in a discharged battery. In order to start the engine, the pilot connected electrical power to the exterior battery receptacle. The pilot then boarded the airplane and started the engine. After the engine was started, the pilot "set the engine rpm to a low setting," got out of the airplane, and removed the exterior power source and wheel chocks. After removing the wheel chocks, the airplane started to move forward. The pilot attempted to stop the airplane, but was unsuccessful. Subsequently, the unoccupied airplane taxied across the airport into a wet field where it impacted a small ditch.
Factual narrative
On November 15, 2001, at 1400 central standard time, a Piper PA-32-300 single-engine airplane, N60TT, was substantially damaged when it impacted a ditch while taxiing unoccupied at the Scholes Field Airport near Galveston, Texas. The instrument-rated private pilot, who was to be the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the proposed 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
In a telephone interview conducted by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, the pilot reported that he had flown the airplane four days prior to the accident date. The pilot stated that after that flight, he had inadvertently left the airplane's electrical master switch "ON," which resulted in a discharged battery. In order to start the engine, the pilot connected electrical power to the exterior battery receptacle. The pilot then boarded the airplane and started the engine. After the engine was started, the pilot "set the engine rpm to a low setting," got out of the airplane, and removed the exterior power source and wheel chocks. After removing the wheel chocks, the airplane started to move forward. The pilot attempted to stop the airplane, but was unsuccessful. Subsequently, the unoccupied airplane taxied across the airport into a wet field where it impacted a small ditch.
An FAA inspector stated that a mechanic, who examined the airplane, reported the right main gear had collapsed damaging the wing spar.
Numerous attempts to obtain a completed NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot were unsuccessful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N60TT
- Reported as
- Piper PA-32-300
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 32-7940151
- Engine
- Lycoming TIO-540, 310 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Robert T. Garrett
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- GLS · Galveston, TX
- Airport
- GLS · Scholes Field
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 40
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 40 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 17 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- GLS
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.