# NTSB GAA15CA145: Beech D17S, N114H, Idaho Falls, ID, June 28, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 28, 2015, 09:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Idaho Falls, ID
- Coordinates: 43.516944, -112.069999 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5169&lon=-112.0700&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 29, 2015
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 91460
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA145
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91460/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91460
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA145

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

While taxiing as a flight of two, the pilot of the blue Beechcraft became distracted and impacted the red Beechcraft which had stopped.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Beech D17S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome, aircraft 1; cases with it: [Beech D17S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Beech D17S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome, aircraft 2; cases with it: [Beech D17S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=1150538), [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-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Beech D17S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Beech D17S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1150538), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

While taxiing as a flight of two, the pilot of the red Beechcraft stopped his airplane so that he could conduct a run-up of the engine. The pilot of the blue Beechcraft lost visual contact with the red Beechcraft while changing frequencies on his radio and impacted the left aft section of the red Beechcraft, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Both of the pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframes or engines that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative (aircraft 2)

While taxing as a flight of two, the pilot of the red Beechcraft stopped his airplane so that he could conduct a run-up of the engine. The pilot of the blue Beechcraft lost visual contact with the red Beechcraft while changing frequencies on his radio and impacted the left aft section of the red Beechcraft, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. Both of the pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframes or engines that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N114H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N114H), registered now, S/N 327, built 1939 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D17S (S)
- Registry model: [Beech D17S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d17s) (registry code 1150538) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney WJR-B-S-T](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-wjr-b-s-t) (registry code 52007, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 327
- Year built: 1939
- Airframe hours: 4590
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R985 AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Hoff Robert A
- Registered owner: Hoff Robert A
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2015
- Departed: IDA, Idaho Falls, ID
- Destination: IDA, Idaho Falls, ID
- Airport: IDA, Idaho Falls Rgnl
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N16M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N16M), registered now, S/N 6765, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D17S (S)
- Registry model: [Beech D17S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d17s) (registry code 1150538) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6756
- Year built: 1944
- Airframe hours: 2680
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 AN-1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Jacobsen Chris
- Registered owner: Jacobsen Chris
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2015
- Departed: IDA, Idaho Falls, ID
- Destination: IDA, Idaho Falls, ID
- Airport: IDA, Idaho Falls Rgnl
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N114H; age 74; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 13, 2015; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 4,713 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 4,525 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N16M; age 69; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 16, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,223 total, 1,256 in this make and model, 1,851 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observed at: KIDA

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20150628008412A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150628008412A), Jun 28, 2015: Beech D17S, Idaho Falls, ID, Substantial damage. On 6/28/2015 at kida, N114H and N16M were taxing out to runway 20 for a flight of two. N114H was the lead aircraft who reported there were birds occupying the…
- [Accident 20150628008402A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150628008402A), Jun 28, 2015: Beech D17S, Idaho Falls, ID, Minor damage. On 6/28/2015 at kida, N114H, BE-17-D17S, s/n 327 and N16M, BE-17-D17S, s/n 6765 were taxing out to runway 20 for a flight of two. N114H was the lead aircraft…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91460. 3.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1(Lead Pilot) (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429489&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1(Lead%20Pilot)-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - View of substantial damage to left wing of the lead airplane (photo courtesy airport operations) (item 2, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429491&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20of%20substantial%20damage%20to%20left%20wing%20of%20the%20lead%20airplane%20(photo%20courtesy%20airport%20operations)-Master.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.

---
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.