# NTSB GAA18CA111: Maule M 6, N56548, Boerne, TX, January 25, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 24, 2018, 18:50 local (Jan 25, 2018, 00:50 UTC) - Place: Boerne, TX - Coordinates: 29.723333, -98.694442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7233&lon=-98.6944&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96652 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96652/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96652 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA111 ## Probable cause The ground vehicle driver’s decision to drive on an active taxiway at night and failure to yield to taxiing aircraft, resulting in a collision with a taxiing aircraft. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Other (probable cause); cases with it: [Maule M-6-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=5460160), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Maule M-6-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=5460160), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Maule M-6-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=5460160), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Maule M-6-235, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5460160), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Maule M-6-235, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=5460160), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during taxi at night, he turned off his anti-collision lights because they were, "creating a disco effect." On the taxiway, and heading to his hangar, he noticed an automobile that was converging on the same taxiway. The pilot expected the automobile to turn off the taxiway. When the vehicle did not turn, the pilot increased the throttle and turned the lights on and off to get the drivers attention. However, the automobile and the airplane collided. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward right-side fuselage and the right-wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, during taxi at night, he turned off his anti-collision lights because they were, "creating a disco effect." On the taxiway, and heading to his hangar, he noticed an automobile that was converging on the same taxiway. The pilot expected the automobile to turn off the taxiway. When the vehicle did not turn, the pilot increased throttle and turned the lights on and off to get the drivers attention. However, the automobile and the airplane collided. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward right-side fuselage and the right-wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56548](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56548-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 7444C, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MAULE M 6 (235) - Registry model: [Maule M-6-235](https://openairdocs.org/model/maule-m-6-235) (registry code 5460160) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 7444C - Year built: 1983 - Airframe hours: 1206.8 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-W1A5D 235 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Alas Viejas LLC - Registered owner: Alas Viejas LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2017 - Departed: 24R, Dilley, TX - Destination: 24R, Dilley, TX - Airport: 5C1, Boerne Stage Field, runway 17, 5,006 × 60 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, Handheld GPS, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 16, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 577 total, 188 in this make and model, 511 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.42 inHg - Observed at: KSAT, 15 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 20180124001619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180124001619A), Jan 24, 2018: Maule M-6-235, Boerne, TX, Substantial damage. After night landing aircraft turned onto taxi way and was stuck by a opposite direction road vehicle ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 17, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96652. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%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. --- 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.