# NTSB GAA16CA454: Piper PA 34, N8166U, Fort Lauderdale, FL, August 13, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 13, 2016, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Coordinates: 26.193332, -80.164169 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1933&lon=-80.1642&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Standing-engine(s) not oper: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 18, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA454
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93911/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93911
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA454

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

The other pilot's failure to ensure that the brake was fully engaged and his subsequent failure to notice that his airplane was rolling forward, which resulted in it hitting another airplane.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The pilot's failure to ensure that the brake was fully engaged and his subsequent failure to notice that his airplane was rolling forward, which resulted in it hitting another airplane.

## 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 (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-34-200T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7103406), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Standing-engine(s) not oper: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 500, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2076602), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

The pilot of the parked airplane reported that he and his co-pilot had just re-entered the airplane and were having a conversation when he felt the airplane shake and heard a loud noise. He further reported that he looked out of the right window and saw an aircraft with its propeller hitting the right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot of the other airplane reported that, after engine start and before taxi for takeoff, he was looking at his navigation communications and did not notice the airplane rolling forward. The airplane rolled forward and collided with the airplane in front of it. The pilot further reported that he was unaware of the airplane's forward movement and that the thought that the hand brake was fully engaged. The airplane sustained minor damage. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The pilot of the parked airplane reported that he and his co-pilot had just re-entered the airplane and were having a conversation when he felt the airplane shake and heard a loud noise. He further reported that he looked out of the right window and saw an aircraft with its propeller hitting the right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot of the other airplane reported that, after engine start and before taxi for takeoff, he was looking at his navigation communications and did not notice the airplane rolling forward. The airplane rolled forward and collided with the airplane in front of it. The pilot further reported that he was unaware of the airplane's forward movement and that the thought that the hand brake was fully engaged. The airplane sustained minor damage. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative (aircraft 2)

**This report was modified on December 22, 2016. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.** The pilot of the parked airplane reported that he and his co-pilot had just re-entered the airplane and were having a conversation when he felt the airplane shake and heard a loud noise. He further reported that he looked out of the right window and saw an aircraft with its propeller hitting the right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot of the other airplane reported that, after engine start and before taxi for takeoff, he was looking at his navigation communications and did not notice the airplane rolling forward. The airplane rolled forward and collided with the airplane in front of it. The pilot further reported that he was unaware of the airplane's forward movement and that the thought that the hand brake was fully engaged. The airplane sustained minor damage. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative (aircraft 1)

**This report was modified on December 22, 2016. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.** The pilot of the parked airplane reported that he and his co-pilot had just re-entered the airplane and were having a conversation when he felt the airplane shake and heard a loud noise. He further reported that he looked out of the right window and saw an aircraft with its propeller hitting the right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot of the other airplane reported that, after engine start and before taxi for takeoff, he was looking at his navigation communications and did not notice the airplane rolling forward. The airplane rolled forward and collided with the airplane in front of it. The pilot further reported that he was unaware of the airplane's forward movement and that the thought that the hand brake was fully engaged. The airplane sustained minor damage. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N8166U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8166U), registered now, S/N 34-8070173, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA 34 (200T)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-34-200T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-34-200t) (registry code 7103406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 34-8070173
- Year built: 1980
- Airframe hours: 3336
- Engines: CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER reciprocating; CONT MOTOR TSIO-360 SER reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Positioning, Part 91
- Operator: Eli Air Center Inc.
- Registered owner: Eli Air Center Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, December 14, 2015
- Departed: MYER, Rock Sound
- Destination: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Executive
- Equipment: None

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N70SW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N70SW-2022-01-08), registration cancelled 2022-01-08, S/N 500-0236, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 500 (CITATION)
- Registry model: [Cessna 500](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-500) (registry code 2076602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada JT15D-1 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-jt15d-1-series) (registry code 52060, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 500-0236
- Year built: 1974
- Airframe hours: 9797.8
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney JT15D-1 2200 lbs thrust turbo fan; Pratt & Whitney JT15D-1 2200 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 1, 2015
- Departed: MYNN, Nassau
- Destination: FXE, Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: FXE, Fort Lauderdale Executive
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N8166U; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,985 total, 1,445 in this make and model, 9 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days
- Pilot, aircraft N70SW; age 35; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2016; restraint: none; flight hours: 8,500 total, 120 in this make and model, 8,000 as pilot in command
- Co-pilot, aircraft N70SW; age 23; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 26, 2016; restraint: none; flight hours: 550 total, 15 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KFXE

## 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 20160813014702A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160813014702A), Aug 13, 2016: Piper PA-34-200T, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot of N8166U stated his aircraft inadvertently rolled into N70SW. N8166U had both engines running at the time of impact. The left propeller of N8166U struck…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 25, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93911. 2.2 MB in all.

- NTSB Form 6120_1_N8166U(Pilot) (item 1, .PDF, 253 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40459002&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1_N8166U(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- NTSB Form 6120_1_N70SW(Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446758&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1_N70SW(Pilot)-Master.PDF
- N8166U Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 37 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446759&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=N8166U%20Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 4, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446760&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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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