# NTSB GAA15CA110: Piper PA 28-181, N442PA, Wickenburg, AZ, May 24, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 24, 2015, 10:05 local (17:05 UTC)
- Place: Wickenburg, AZ
- Coordinates: 33.970554, -112.794998 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9706&lon=-112.7950&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91328
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA110
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91328/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91328
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA110

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to monitor the airplane's wing clearance during taxi, which resulted in a collision with a parked airplane.

## 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 · Student/instructed 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: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi: 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 student pilot reported that while taxiing in the ramp area after landing, he did not visually monitor the airplane's wing clearance and struck a parked airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The student pilot reported that while taxiing in the ramp area after landing, he did not visually monitor the airplane's wing clearance and struck a parked airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The student pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N442PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N442PA), registered now, S/N 2843498, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 28-181 (181)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2843498
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 17050.1
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360 A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: TransPac Aviation Academy, doing business as TransPac Aviation Academy
- Registered owner: Bird Acquisition LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, May 13, 2015, 42 hours before
- Departed: E63, Gila Bend, AZ
- Destination: E25, Wickenburg, AZ
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: E25, Wickenburg municipal
- Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 47 total, 47 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observed at: KLUF, 33 nm away

## 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 20150524011961A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150524011961A), May 24, 2015: Piper PA-28-181, Wickenburg, AZ, Substantial damage. On may 24, 2015 in the original statement provided by the student pilot he reported that after completing a solo flight into Wickenburg muninciple airport and…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91328. 2.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430573&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memorandum For Record (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40430574&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20(FAA)-Redacted.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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