# NTSB GAA19CA239: Gippsland GA8, N524AV, Bethel, AK, May 2, 2019

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 1, 2019, 20:18 local (May 2, 2019, 04:18 UTC)
- Place: Bethel, AK
- Coordinates: 60.77861, -161.837219 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7786&lon=-161.8372&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 7 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 3, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 99361
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA239
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99361/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99361
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA239

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a shipping container while taxiing.

## 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: [Gippsaero GA8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0563295), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Gippsaero GA8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=0563295), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Gippsaero GA8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0563295), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Gippsaero GA8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=0563295), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while taxiing to the tie-down area after landing, during a "tight" right turn, the airplane's left wingtip struck a shipping container. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that, after landing, while taxiing to the tie-down area, during a "tight" right turn, the airplane's left-wing tip struck a shipping container. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing spar. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N524AV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N524AV), registered now, S/N GA8-15-214, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Gippsland GA8 (Undesignat)
- Registry model: [Gippsaero GA8](https://openairdocs.org/model/gippsaero-ga8) (registry code 0563295) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-K1A5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-k1a5) (registry code 41663, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: GA8-15-214
- Year built: 2015
- Airframe hours: 4437
- Engines: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Global Air Concepts Llc
- Registered owner: Global Air Concepts Llc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, April 15, 2019
- Departed: A61, Tuntutuliak, AK
- Destination: BET, Bethel, AK
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: BET, Bethel
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 27, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 783 total, 129 in this make and model, 733 as pilot in command, 123 in the last 90 days, 63 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,900 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: PABE

## 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 20190501003709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190501003709A), May 1, 2019: Gippsaero GA8, Bethel, AK, Substantial damage. Last flight of the day the airman taxied the aircraft into a tie-down spot nearest to the grant aviation, inc. maintenance hangar, as he did for the past two…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99361. 1.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479773&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479774&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%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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