- Date
- January 3, 2004, 13:10 local (21:10 UTC)
- Place
- Groveland, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N9272QPiper PA 28-181
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 30, 2004
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040103000039A
- Case key
- 58585
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 pilot's inadequate visual lookout, and his failure to maintain obstacle clearance. Factors to the accident were the parked vehicle, and the pilot's diverted attention.
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
The left wing of the airplane collided with a parked vehicle on the taxiway. The pilot was taxiing down the center of the taxiway, and was distracted by light snow and slush located in a dip. While he was focused on the dip, the collision occurred. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
On January 3, 2004, about 1310 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA 28-181, N9272Q, collided with a vehicle while taxiing at Pine Mountain Lake Airport, Groveland, California. The pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight departed Nut Tree Airport, Vacaville, California, about 1200. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.
In a written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that while taxiing he was distracted by light snow and slush located in a dip of the taxiway. While he was focused on the dip, the left wing collided with a parked pickup truck. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident.
In a phone conversation with the IIC, the pilot reported that he was taxiing down the center of the taxiway when the collision occurred.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9272Q
- Reported as
- Piper PA 28-181
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2843038
- Airframe hours
- 772.8
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360 Series, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Thomas s. Bucci
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 7, 2003 · 73.9 hours before
- Departed
- KVCB · Vacaville, CA
- Destination
- Q68 · Groveland, CA
- Airport
- Q68 · Pine Mountain Lake 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
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 18, 2003
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 495 total · 280 in this make and model · 445 as pilot in command · 47 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Temperature
- 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.28 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.