# NTSB GAA19CA024: Cessna 172, N73345, Vergennes, VT, October 14, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 14, 2018, 11:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Vergennes, VT - Coordinates: 44.195835, -73.349441 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1958&lon=-73.3494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98492 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98492/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98492 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while taxiing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 172M, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2072418), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after landing on a 3,000 by 90 ft turf runway, he back taxied on the runway. While back taxiing along the left edge of the runway, he moved his airplane as far to the left as possible to create maximum separation from an airplane that was landing. He recalled that he was focused on the other airplane's landing when his airplane's left wing collided with tall vegetation and a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after landing on a 3,000ft by 90ft turf runway, he back taxied on the runway. During the back taxi, while traveling along the left edge of the runway, he moved as far to the left as possible to create as much separation for an airplane that was landing. He recalled that he was focused on the other airplane's landing when the left wing of his airplane collided with tall vegetation and a tree. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73345](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N73345), registered now, S/N 17267390, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172 (M) - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17267390 - Year built: 1976 - Airframe hours: 6691.1 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-ED2 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Vermont Flight Academy - Registered owner: Aviation Mavericks Llc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2018 - Departed: BTV, Burlington, VT - Destination: B06, Vergennes, VT - Airport: B06, Basin Harbor - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 13, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 476 total, 442 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KBTV, 18 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 20181014019959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181014019959A), Oct 14, 2018: Cessna 172M, Vergennes, VT, Substantial damage. On October 14, 2018, N73345 was operating on a personal sightseeing flight that departed from burlington international airport (kbtv). The pilot in command… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98492. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 130 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.