# NTSB GAA16CA417: Cessna 172, N4801D, Everett, WA, August 4, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 3, 2016, 21:24 local (Aug 4, 2016, 04:24 UTC)
- Place: Everett, WA
- Coordinates: 47.9025, -122.283058 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.9025&lon=-122.2831&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 12, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93764
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA417
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93764/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93764
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA417

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the building door, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing.

## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md)
- [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Taxi: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md)
- [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172N, 134 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072434), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

After a local flight, the pilot reported that while taxing in the non-movement area at night he made a left turn and impacted a building door with the left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

After a local flight, the pilot reported that while taxing in the non-movement area at night he made a left turn and impacted a building door with the left wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4801D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4801D-2019-03-18), registration cancelled 2019-03-18, S/N 17272362, built 1979 (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: 17272362
- Year built: 1979
- Airframe hours: 10645.1
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 lbs thrust reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 2016
- Departed: RNT, RENTON, WA
- Destination: PAE, Everett, WA
- Airport: PAE, Snohomish County (Paine Fld)
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 22, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 415 total, 350 in this make and model, 415 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 3.7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observed at: KPAE

## 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 20160803013119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160803013119A), Aug 3, 2016: Cessna 172N, Everett, WA, Substantial damage. A/c flew from rnt to pae, upon landing pilot exited runway at A-3 or A-4 ( does not remember) moved into taxi area, missed turn off, moved into a hanger area,…

## Other investigations on N4801D (1)

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 GAA18CA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA078), Dec 8, 2017: Cessna 172 (N4801D), Everett, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to abort the takeoff following a touch-and-go landing with too little runway remaining, which resulted in a runway overrun.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93764. 2.5 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=40444017&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 625 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444018&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%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.

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