# NTSB LAX01LA246: Mooney M20J, N4326H, Las Vegas, NV, July 12, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 2001, 15:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.080833, -115.151947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0808&lon=-115.1519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 1, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: LAS FSDO, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52697 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52697/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA246 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadaquate visual lookout and failure to maintain proper clearance from an object. A factor was the pilot's distraction by a conversation with ground control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - object - pole - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During taxi the airplane collided with a pole. The fixed based operator (FBO) stated that the aircraft was behind the "follow me" golf cart and passed through an opening between a parked aircraft and a metal pole. The total distance betwen the parked aircraft and the pole was measured at 78 feet, and the wing span on the accident aircraft was measured at 35 feet. The pilot stated while taxiing behind the "follow me" golf cart he was distracted by ground control who was trying to provide him with a telephone number to contact tower after securing his aircraft. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2001, at 1535 hours Pacific daylight time, a Mooney M20J, N4326H, collided with a pole while taxiing to parking at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The airplane sustained substantial damage; however, the certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The personal cross-country flight had originated in Fullerton, California, and departed at an unknown time. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was on file. According to the fixed base operator (FBO), the pilot was behind a "follow me" golf cart en route to parking. As the cart passed through an opening between a parked airplane on the right and a metal pole on the left, the left wing of the accident airplane struck the metal pole, as well as a nearby fire extinguisher. The lateral distance between the closest wing tip of the parked airplane on the right and the metal pole on the left was measured at 78 feet. The wing span on the accident airplane is 35 feet. The pilot stated that he was behind the "follow me" golf cart, but struck the pole when he became distracted from ground control who was attempting to provide him with a telephone number to call after securing his airplane. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the controllers wanted to discuss an air space violation that had occurred while the pilot was en route to McCarran Field. A postaccident inspection of the left wing by an FAA inspector revealed that four left wing ribs were bent back to the spar, and the spar was bent aft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4326H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4326H-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 24-0707, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0707 - Airframe hours: 3950 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A3BB0 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas Francis Fessler - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: FUL, Fullerton, CA - Destination: LAS, Las Vegas, NV - Airport: LAS, McCarron International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 23, 2000; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 102 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KLAS ## 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 20010712014809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010712014809A), Jul 12, 2001: Mooney M20J, Las Vegas, NV, No damage. (-23) Mooney N4326H struck a pole while taxiing to parking after landing at mccarran international airport. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the… ## Other investigations on N4326H (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 WPR11LA075](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA075), Dec 11, 2010: Mooney M20J (N4326H), Chino, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to properly position the flaps for the takeoff, failure to maintain airplane control during the procedure, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action. 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.