# NTSB LAX05CA182: Piper PA-28-181, N8460N, Oxnard, CA, May 20, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: May 20, 2005, 16:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place: Oxnard, CA
- Coordinates: 34.200832, -119.207221
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2008&lon=-119.2072&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 61555
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX05CA182
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61555/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX05CA182

## Probable cause

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from the building.  The pilot's diverted attention was a factor.

## 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
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - hangar/airport building

## Analysis

The airplane's left wing impacted a building while the pilot was taxiing toward a transient parking area following an uneventful landing.  When the pilot commenced a right turn and attempted to proceed between parked airplanes and a building, he diverted his attention toward the parked airplanes and misjudged his clearance from the building.

## Factual narrative

On May 20, 2005, about 1640 Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-28-181, N8460N, taxied into a building following an uneventful landing at the Oxnard Airport, Oxnard, California.  Air Desert Pacific Corporation, La Verne, California, operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The airplane was substantially damaged.  The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured during the personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.  The flight originated from La Verne about 1530.

The pilot indicated to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that after landing he requested and received an air traffic control clearance to taxi to the transient parking area.  The pilot reported that while taxiing he commenced a right turn and attempted to proceed between parked airplanes and a building.  While looking to the right at a nearby parked airplane, his airplane's left wing impacted the building.

The pilot was certificated as a private pilot on May 3, 2005.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8460N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8460N-2013-09-12), registration cancelled 2013-09-12, S/N 28-8290055, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-181
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (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: 28-8290055
- Engines: Lycoming O-360 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Air Desert Pacific Corp
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: POC, La Verne, CA
- Destination: OXR, Oxnard, CA
- Airport: OXR, Oxnard

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 114 total, 114 in this make and model, 114 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observed at: OXR

## 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 20050520011119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050520011119A), May 20, 2005: Piper PA28181, Oxnard, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) At approximately 16:40 psd on 05/20/2005 the pilot [privacy data omitted] was taxiing to the transient parking area next to the restaurant, off of…

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.

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