# NTSB GAA16CA051: Piper PA 31-350, N555RG, Portland, OR, November 17, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 16, 2015, 18:35 local (Nov 17, 2015, 02:35 UTC) - Place: Portland, OR - Coordinates: 45.585834, -122.608886 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5858&lon=-122.6089&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 92333 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA051 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92333/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92333 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA051 ## Probable cause The failure of the fuel truck driver to see and avoid the taxiing airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Flight service personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-31-350, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7103110), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after landing during dark rainy night conditions, he exited the runway on taxiway E and contacted the ground controller. The controller instructed the pilot to taxi via E and E4 to the ramp. The pilot further reported that he proceeded to taxi south on E and made a left turn onto E4. On E4 the airplane's left wing was struck by a fuel truck. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to the local Police Department report, the fuel truck driver reported that he was driving on the south perimeter road and came to a stop at the stop sign for about 15 seconds. The driver continued to cross the intersection at about 5 miles per hour, and drove into the airplane. The fuel truck driver reported that he did not see the airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after landing during dark rainy night conditions, he exited the runway on taxiway echo and contacted ground. Ground instructed the pilot to taxi via Echo and Echo 4 to the ramp. The pilot further reported that he proceeded to taxi south on Echo and made a left turn onto Echo 4. On Echo 4 the airplane's left wing was struck by a fuel truck. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to the local Police Department report, the fuel truck driver reported that he was driving on the south perimeter road, and came to a stop at the stop sign for about 15 seconds. The driver continued to cross the intersection at about 5 miles per hour, and drove into the airplane. The fuel truck driver further reported that he did not see the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N555RG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N555RG-2016-05-11), registration cancelled 2016-05-11, S/N 31-7305103, built 1973 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA 31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TI0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-ti0-540-series) (registry code 41533, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-7305103 - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 25463.6 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING TIO-540-J2B 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Ameriflight LLC., doing business as Ameriflight - Registered owner: Uas Transervices Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, November 10, 2015 - Departed: LMT, KLAMATH FALLS, OR - Destination: PDX, Portland, OR - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: PDX, Portland Intl - Equipment: Stall warning system, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 10, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,012 total, 251 in this make and model, 1,916 as pilot in command, 177 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 120° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,100 ft overcast - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KPDX, 1 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92333. 2.8 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=40437411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Fuel Truck Driver Statement and Diagram Extract from Portland Police Report (item 2, .PDF, 113 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Fuel%20Truck%20Driver%20Statement%20and%20Diagram%20Extract%20from%20Portland%20Police%20Report-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA and Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 761 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40437412&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA%20and%20Pilot)-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.