- Date
- June 5, 1995, 18:20 local (Jun 6, 1995, 01:20 UTC)
- Place
- Tucson, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N3875BBeech E35
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 6, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950605020519A
- Case key
- 29116
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 failure to maintain adequate clearance from a taxiway sign while taxiing clear of the runway.
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
While holding in position on runway 29R, the pilot lost radio contact with the tower. The pilot glanced at short traffic on runway 21, and also noticed a red flashing light from the tower. The pilot touched the volume control knob and immediately heard the tower giving him instructions to clear the runway. While taxiing clear of the runway the airplane's right wing collided with the taxiway sign. Damage to the right wing spar resulted.
Factual narrative
On June 5, 1995, at 1820 hours mountain standard time, a Beech E35, N3875B, was substantially damaged when it collided with a taxiway sign while taxiing clear of runway 29R on taxiway A11, at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a VFR flight plan had been filed for the operation. The aircraft was being flown under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight. The certificated private pilot was not injured. The flight was originating from Tucson, Arizona, at the time of the accident.
Cassette re-recordings of the air-to-ground communications tapes from the Tucson Air Traffic Control Tower were reviewed, along with the pilot's written report. The pilot was cleared into position and hold by the tower onto runway 29R via taxiway A13. The pilot taxied into position, but did not hear any further instruction for several minutes. The pilot glanced at short traffic on runway 21 and then noticed a red flashing light from the tower. He touched the volume knob on the radio, and almost immediately he heard the tower instruct him to clear the runway. As the pilot exited runway 29R via taxiway A11, the aircraft right wing came into contact with the taxiway sign. Damage to the right wing spar resulted from the collision.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3875B
- Reported as
- Beech E35
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- D4198
- Engine
- Continental E-225-8, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Albert G. Freeman
- Registered owner
- Horace Higgins
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- TUS
- Destination
- FLG · Flagstaff, AZ
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- TUS · Tucson International, runway 29R, 10,994 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 54
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,843 total · 290 in this make and model · 1,843 as pilot in command · 46 in the last 90 days · 38 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3875B · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.