# NTSB GAA20CA085: Piper PA60, N914MB, Salt Lake City, UT, November 9, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 8, 2019, 18:20 local (Nov 9, 2019, 01:20 UTC) - Place: Salt Lake City, UT - Coordinates: 40.79, -111.980003 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7900&lon=-111.9800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 16, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100596 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100596/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100596 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA085 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to follow the taxiway centerline guide and his distraction due to adjusting the radio, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from a taxiway light after landing and while taxiing to a ramp. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: runway/taxi/approach light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-60-700P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md?model=7106023), [All aircraft, 106 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-60-700P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=7106023), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-60-700P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7106023), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-60-700P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7106023), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Piper PA-60-700P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=7106023), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-60-700P, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=7106023), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the night landing, he landed about 10 knots faster than normal and that, while exiting the runway, he did not follow the taxi centerline guide but instead taxied right of the centerline so that he could reach the taxiway as soon as possible. He was momentarily distracted while adjusting the radio as he was attempting to leave the runway. After completing the right turn, he recaptured the taxiway centerline and parked the airplane. During his preflight inspection the next morning, he found damage to the pressurized cabin and the right propeller. Upon further examination, the pilot noted that the right propeller had struck a taxiway light, which had dislodged the light and broken off the blade tip, and that the propeller blade tip had struck the cabin. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the cabin. 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, during the night time landing, he landed about 10 knots faster than routine and while exiting the runway, he did not follow the taxi centerline guide but instead taxied right of centerline and was momentarily distracted in the cockpit while he manipulated the radio. After completing the right turn, he recaptured taxiway centerline and parked the airplane. The next morning, during his preflight inspection, he found damage to the pressurized cabin and the right-side propeller. Upon further examination, the pilot reported that the right-side propeller struck a taxiway light; subsequently, the dislodged taxiway light and propeller blade tip struck the cabin. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the pressurized cabin. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N914MB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N914MB), registered now, S/N 60-8423008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA60 (700P) - Registry model: [Piper PA-60-700P](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-60-700p) (registry code 7106023) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 60-8423008 - Year built: 1984 - Engines: 350 horsepower reciprocating; 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Medical Management Inc - Registered owner: Medical Management Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: AFO, Afton, WY - Destination: SLC, Salt Lake City, UT - Airport: SLC, Salt Lake City Intl, runway 35, 9,596 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 10, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,694 total, 390 in this make and model, 4,676 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KSLC, 1 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 20191108020899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191108020899A), Nov 8, 2019: Piper Aircraft Corp PA-60-700P, Salt Lake City, UT, Substantial damage. The pilot landed on runway 35 and exited taxiway K5. He was focused on exiting the runway to make room for the king air landing behind him and unintentionally… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 5, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100596. 6.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481029&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.