# NTSB FTW97LA320: Piper PA-31-350, N35164, Hayden, CO, August 20, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 20, 1997, 07:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Hayden, CO
- Coordinates: 40.479244, -107.260818 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4792&lon=-107.2608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 2, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20321
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA320
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20321/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA320

## Probable cause

The pilot in command's inadequate visual lookout.

## 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
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot passenger

## Analysis

Cargo had been unloaded from the airplane into a UPS (United Parcel Service) truck.  The pilot thought the truck had moved out of the way.  As he began to taxi, the airplane's horizontal stabilizer struck the corner of the truck.

## Factual narrative

On August 20, 1997, approximately 0745 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-31-350, N35164, operated by Flight Line, Inc., d/b/a American Check Transport, was substantially damaged when it collided with a truck while taxiing for takeoff at Hayden, Colorado.  The commercial pilot-in-command, commercial pilot-rated passenger, and the truck driver were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the nonscheduled domestic cargo flight being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 135.  The flight was originating when the accident occurred.

According to the company's director of operations, the pilot-rated passenger was aboard the airplane for familiarization purposes.  Although he was an employee of the company, he did not have any flight crew duties.  In the accident report, the director of operations said that after the cargo had been unloaded and loaded between the airplane and a UPS (United Parcel Service) truck, the pilot prepared for the next trip leg. He thought the truck had moved out of the way.  As he began to taxi, the airplane's horizontal stabilizer struck the corner of the truck.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N35164 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-7952090
- Airframe hours: 15000
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Flight Line, Inc., doing business as American Check Transport
- Registered owner: Jamestown Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 16, 1997, 70 hours before
- Departed: HDN
- Destination: RWL, RAWLINS, WY
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: HDN, Yampa Valley Regional

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,800 total, 160 in this make and model, 1,600 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: HDN

## 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 19970820023169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970820023169A), Aug 20, 1997: Piper PA31350, Hayden, CO, Substantial damage. American check transport aircraft taxied into a united parcel truck. (.4)cargo had been unloaded from the airplane into a ups (united parcel service) truck.…

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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