# NTSB GAA16CA096: Cessna 172, N4776E, Punta Gorda, FL, December 26, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 26, 2015, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Punta Gorda, FL - Coordinates: 26.914722, -81.996391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9147&lon=-81.9964&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 March 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA Tampa FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92532 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA096 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92532/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92532 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA096 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance while taxiing on the ramp, resulting in a collision with an object. ## 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: [Cessna 172N, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 810 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Towing and taxiing: taxiing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010920/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: [Cessna 172N, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The solo student pilot reported that after landing, he was taxiing on a ramp between a parked airplane and a ramp light pole as directed by the lineman. During the taxi movement, the left wing of the airplane impacted the ramp light pole and sustained substantial damage. He reported that the lineman and the parked airplane, "had my attention and I did not see the grey light pole during my scan, possibly due to the grey sky background at the time." The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The solo student pilot reported that after landing, he was taxiing on a ramp between a parked airplane and a ramp light pole as directed by the lineman. During the taxi movement, the left wing of the airplane impacted the ramp light pole and sustained substantial damage. He reported that the lineman and the parked airplane, "had my attention and I did not see the grey light pole during my scan, possibly due to the grey sky background at the time." The student pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4776E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4776E), registered now, S/N 17271641, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (N) - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17271641 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 5477.6 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-H2AD 140 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Jacobs Flight Services, LLC - Registered owner: Jacobs Flight Services, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 28, 2015 - Departed: 2IS, CLEWISTON, FL - Destination: PGD, Punta Gorda, FL - Airport: PGD, Punta Gorda, runway 04, 7,193 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 40; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 47.4 total, 31.8 in this make and model, 12.8 as pilot in command, 19.6 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KPGD ## 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 20151226022229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151226022229A), Dec 26, 2015: Cessna 172N, Punta Gorda, FL, Substantial damage. On 26 December 2015, at 1705 EST, a Cessna 172, N4776E, struck concrete light pole with its left wing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.… ## Other investigations on N4776E (2) 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. - [NTSB CHI00LA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA021), Oct 25, 1999: Cessna 172N (N4776E), Crandon, WI, substantial damage. Probable cause: the deer that ran out onto the runway and collided with the airplane. A factor associated with the accident was the night lighting conditions. - [NTSB NYC96LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA136), Jun 28, 1996: Cessna 172N (N4776E), Newry, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to identify the inoperative airspeed indication and abort the takeoff, while there was sufficient runway remaining; excessive speed during the approach/landing; and the pilot's… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92532. 866 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=2986869&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 475 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=2986860&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 3, AVI, 864 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=2985124&FileExtension=avi&FileName=Accident%20Video-Rel.avi 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.