# NTSB GAA18CA208: Piper PA 28, N4400W, Tucson, AZ, April 8, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 8, 2018, 10:17 local (17:17 UTC) - Place: Tucson, AZ - Coordinates: 32.139167, -111.173332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1392&lon=-111.1733&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 5, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97013 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97013/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97013 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA208 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a stationary pole while parking. ## 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: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md) - [Parking/securing: parking/storage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011010): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011010/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01011010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that, while taxiing to park, he aligned the airplane with the parking spot, added power to make the turn, and then heard a "boom." He shut the engine down and examined the airplane and found that the left wing had hit a pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing rear spar. The flight safety officer for the operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The safety officer further reported that the company policy was to shut down the airplane on the yellow taxiway centerline before pushing the airplane back into the parking spot. He added that, after interviewing other flight crews, he learned that flight instructors had been demonstrating incorrect parking methods to students, including the student who taxied into the pole. ## Factual narrative The student pilot reported that, while taxiing to park, he aligned the airplane with the parking spot, added power to make the turn, and then heard a "boom". He added that, he shut the engine down, checked what happened, and realized that the left wing had hit a pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing rear spar. The flight safety officer for the operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The safety officer further reported that, the company policy was to shut down the airplane on the yellow taxiway centerline before pushing the airplane back into the parking spot. He added that, after interviewing other flight crews, he learned that flight instructors had been demonstrating incorrect parking methods to students, including the student who taxied into the pole. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4400W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4400W), registered now, S/N 2843713, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA 28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102832) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A4M](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a4m) (registry code 42276, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843713 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 5433.3 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Cae Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix Inc - Registered owner: Cae Oxford Aviation Academy Phoenix Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 6, 2018 - Departed: FFZ, MESA, AZ - Destination: RYN, Tucson, AZ - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RYN, Ryan Field, runway 24R, 4,900 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Video recording device, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 19; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 119 total, 104 in this make and model, 54 as pilot in command, 89 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 11 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KRYN, 1 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97013. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 854 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463881&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-Master.PDF - Email ROC Flight Safety Officer (item 3, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40463883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Email%20ROC%20Flight%20Safety%20Officer-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.