# NTSB FTW97LA060: Mooney M-20G, N6868N, Saginaw, TX, December 11, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 10, 1996, 20:25 local (Dec 11, 1996, 02:25 UTC) - Place: Saginaw, TX - Coordinates: 32.91077, -97.430816 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9108&lon=-97.4308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 20125 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20125/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA060 ## Probable cause The driver of the vehicle's failure to maintain clearance from the taxiing airplane. A factor was the dark night light condition which resulted in the driver's delayed visual identification of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - vehicle - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - identification of aircraft visually - delayed, driver of vehicle (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, driver of vehicle (cause) ## Analysis It was a dark night, and the airplane, with its landing, belly strobe, and navigation lights on, was taxiing north on the taxiway for takeoff on runway 14. A pickup truck traveling south on the taxiway struck the left wing tip of the airplane. The driver of the pickup stated that she saw one headlight and assumed the oncoming traffic was a motorcycle. She further stated that she identified the traffic as an airplane immediately prior to the collision and applied the brakes, but was unable to avoid hitting the airplane. ## Factual narrative On December 10, 1996, at 2025 central standard time, a Mooney M-20G, N6868N, was substantially damaged when it collided with a moving vehicle while taxiing at Hicks Airfield near Saginaw, Texas. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured, and one of the three occupants of the vehicle received minor injuries. The airplane, registered to and operated by a private owner, was operating under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the personal flight which was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot and the Tarrant County Sheriff's Department (TCSD) accident report, the airplane was taxiing north on the parallel taxiway for takeoff on runway 14. The airplane's landing, belly strobe, and navigation lights were on. A pickup truck traveling south on the taxiway struck the left wing tip of the airplane, and the airplane "spun around" and came to rest heading south. The driver of the pickup told the TCSD investigator that she saw one headlight and assumed the oncoming traffic was a motorcycle. She further stated to the investigator that she identified the traffic as an airplane immediately prior to the collision and applied the brakes, but was unable to avoid hitting the airplane. According to an FAA inspector who examined the airplane, the left wing spar was bent, the wing attach points were damaged, and the fuselage was wrinkled. The pickup truck's hood and windshield were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6868N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6868N-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N 680123, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M-20G - Registry model: [Mooney M-20G](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m-20g) (registry code 5870216) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 680123 - Airframe hours: 5114 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dennis R Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 27, 1996, 90 hours before - Departed: T67 - Airport: T67, Hicks Airfield ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 460 total, 372 in this make and model, 396 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °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 19961210045069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961210045069A), Dec 10, 1996: Mooney M20G, Fort Worth, TX, Substantial damage. Narrative: on December 10, 1996, at approximately 2025 CST, a Mooney M-20G, N6868N, was substantially damaged when a full size pickup truck collided with it.… 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.