# NTSB GAA17CA149: Piper PA28, N3563K, Palm Coast, FL, December 13, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 13, 2016, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Palm Coast, FL
- Coordinates: 29.464721, -81.206947 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4647&lon=-81.2069&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 10, 2017
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94749
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA149
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94749/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94749
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA149

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the taxiway sign.

## 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: [Piper PA-28-140, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md)
- [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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: Airport occurrence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/070/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-140, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=7102802), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, after landing and during the turn onto a taxiway, the left wing impacted a taxiway sign. He added that he was not able to see the sign because of sun glare. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that after landing during the turn onto a taxiway, the left wing impacted a taxiway sign. He added that he was not able to see the sign because of a sun glare. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3563K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3563K-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 28-23628, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (140)
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 28-23628
- Year built: 1967
- Airframe hours: 4700
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, January 9, 2016
- Departed: FIN, Palm Coast, FL
- Destination: FIN, Palm Coast, FL
- Airport: FIN, Flagler Executive
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 5,000 total, 4,500 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KOMN, 11 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 20161213021629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161213021629A), Dec 13, 2016: Piper PA-28-140, Palm Coast, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot, a private pilot, of Piper PA28-140 N3563K landed on runway 24, exited the runway into the grass area prior to taxiway c, striking the guidance sign…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94749. 970 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 873 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450342&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40450343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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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