- Date
- January 2, 1998, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Augusta, ME
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N9912LCessna 172P
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 16, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980102046059A
- Case key
- 28271
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The inadequate lookout of the pilot in command.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Snow and ice obstructed the taxiway lines. The pilot was taxiing using a row of hangars to his right side to assist in judging the distance from parked airplanes on his left. Focusing right and left, both the pilot and the pilot rated passenger did not notice the vehicle parked in front of the hangars. The pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane impacted the vehicle with the right wing. No mechanical problems were found with the airplane.
Factual narrative
On January 2, 1998, about 1415 eastern standard time, a Cessna 172P, N9912L, was substantially damaged as it collided with a parked vehicle while taxiing at the Augusta State Airport, Augusta, Maine. The certificated private pilot and the pilot rated passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed and no flight plan was file for the ferry flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane, registered to the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), Maxwell AFB, Alabama, departed the Northern Maine Regional/Presque Isle Airport, Presque Isle, Maine, at 1230.
The pilot reported that it snowed the previous day, and residual snow and ice were obstructing the taxiway lines. The pilot recalled that as he was taxiing, he used a row of hangars to his right to assist in judging the distance from parked airplanes on his left. Focusing their attention right and left, both the pilot and the passenger stated that they did not notice the vehicle parked in front of the hangars. The pilot applied the brakes, and the airplane impacted the vehicle with the right wing.
The Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors examined the airplane on January 7, 1998. The examination revealed damage to the right wing spar, and upgraded this incident to an accident. No mechanical malfunctions were found with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9912L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172P
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17276648
- Airframe hours
- 2,597
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Civil Air Patrol
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 16, 1997 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- PQI · Presque Isle, ME
- Destination
- AUG
- Airport
- AUG · Augusta State Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 92 total · 92 in this make and model · 43 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 2 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 23 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.