# NTSB GAA19CA585: Beech 23, N6009U, Keystone Heights, FL, September 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 9, 2019, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Keystone Heights, FL - Coordinates: 29.844722, -82.0475 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8447&lon=-82.0475&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100394 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA585 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100394/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100394 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA585 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a construction sign during taxi operations. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1151242), [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: [Beech C23, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=1151242), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after landing on runway 11, he realized runway 5/23 was being used as a taxiway so he back taxied onto runway 23. He saw another airplane taxiing toward him and made several CTAF transmissions to the pilot but received no response. Not knowing the taxiing airplane's intentions, he maneuvered his airplane to the left side of runway 5, and the left wing struck a construction sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. 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 on runway 11, "I realized that (runway) 5-23 was being used as a taxiway." He back taxied on runway 23, with the intent of departing runway 5. He made several CTAF transmissions to an airplane that had begun to taxi toward him on runway 23. Not knowing the taxiing airplane's intentions, he maneuvered his airplane to the left side of runway 5 and the left wing struck a construction sign. The airplane sustained substantial damage to left wing and aileron. According to airport NOTAM 09/076, runway 5/23 closed except to taxi Monday-Friday. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6009U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6009U-2022-04-30), registration cancelled 2022-04-30, S/N M-2088, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech 23 (C23) - Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: M-2088 - Year built: 1978 - Airframe hours: 3320 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2019 - Departed: FL13, Middleburg, FL - Destination: 42J, Keystone Heights, FL - Airport: 42J, Keystone Airpark, runway 05, 5,046 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 5, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 820.7 total, 518 in this make and model, 3 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: K42J ## 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 20190909010159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190909010159A), Sep 9, 2019: Beech C23, Keystone Height, FL, Substantial damage. On September 9, 2019, Mr. Powell (pilot in command) flew from FL13 to 42J to refuel his aircraft (N6009U). While taxing on runway 5-23 to the FBO, [privacy… ## Other investigations on N6009U (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA21FA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA194), Apr 28, 2021: Beech C23 (N6009U), Middleburg, FL, destroyed, 3 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to depart from a soft grass runway with a tailwind, which resulted in an increased takeoff distance and subsequent impact with trees during the initial climb. ## 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=100394. 615 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40479772&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.