# NTSB GAA15CA215: Cessna 560XL, N560JF, Spanish Fork, UT, August 5, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 5, 2015, 08:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.146667, -111.671943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1467&lon=-111.6719&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Salt Lake City FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91721 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91721/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91721 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA215 ## Probable cause The Captain's decision to taxi on a closed taxiway, which resulted in a collision with a parked construction vehicle. Contributing to the accident was a ground crew employee's decision to move barricades from the closed taxiway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: unnecessary action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Ground crew (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 52 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041045/cases.md) - [Wing structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/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); cases with it: [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis During taxi to the runway, the Captain reported that he originally planned to back taxi on the runway, but he observed a gyroplane waiting to takeoff and decided to taxi on the closed taxiways to allow the other aircraft to depart. As the taxi progressed on the closed taxiway, the Captain reported that his First Officer stated, "Watch that left side!" When the Captain looked to his left, he observed the left wing of the airplane strike a construction vehicle that was parked next to the taxiway. After the collision, the Captain stopped the airplane and shutdown the engines on the taxiway. The Captain stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The Captain stated that there were no barricades present on the closed taxiways, and the construction vehicle was not marked or flagged. The Captain also reported that he checked the notices to airmen (NOTAMs) during preflight and was aware of the taxiway closures at the departure airport. During postaccident interviews, an employee of the fixed based operator (FBO) stated that he moved the barricades on the closed taxiways earlier in the morning so that another airplane could depart. The airport manager stated that the taxiways were published closed and he did not provide any instructions to move the barricades. ## Factual narrative During taxi to the runway, the Captain reported that he originally planned to back taxi on the runway, but he observed a gyroplane waiting to takeoff and decided to taxi on the closed taxiways to allow the other aircraft to depart. As the taxi progressed on the closed taxiway, the Captain reported that his First Officer stated, "Watch that left side!" When the Captain looked to his left, he observed the left wing of the airplane strike a construction vehicle that was parked next to the taxiway. After the collision, the Captain stopped the airplane and shutdown the engines on the taxiway. The Captain stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The Captain stated that there were no barricades present on the closed taxiways, and the construction vehicle was not marked or flagged. The Captain also reported that he checked the notices to airmen (NOTAMs) during preflight and was aware of the taxiway closures at the departure airport. During postaccident interviews, an employee of the fixed based operator (FBO) stated that he moved the barricades on the closed taxiways earlier in the morning so that another airplane could depart. The airport manager stated that the taxiways were published closed and he did not provide any instructions to move the barricades. ## Aircraft - Registration: N560JF (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 560XL (ENCORE) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5605173 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 4022 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PW - 545 A 3804 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney PW-545-A 3804 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Operator: Snow Peak Ventures LLC - Registered owner: Snow Peak Ventures LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, July 11, 2015 - Departed: U77, Spanish Fork, UT - Destination: SGU, ST GEORGE, UT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: U77, Spanish Fork-Springville-Woodh, runway 12, 5,700 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 19, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,820 total, 740 in this make and model, 2,995 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours - Co-pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 18, 2014; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,361 total, 576 in this make and model, 1,150 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 5 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 20150805011529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150805011529A), Aug 5, 2015: Cessna 560XL, Spanish Fork, UT, Substantial damage. A/c on taxi left wing struck stationary construction equipment which was a trencher. A/c back taxied on runway until taxiway A4 then re entered taxiway a and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91721. 2.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431943&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431944&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-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.