# NTSB LAX96LA245: Piper PA-24-250, N6420P, Las Vegas, NV, June 14, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 1996, 16:10 local (23:10 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.080566, -115.140151 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0806&lon=-115.1402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29482 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29482/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA245 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent turn onto a vehicular access road instead of a taxiway at a large unfamiliar airport, and his diverted attention. ## 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 - light condition - daylight - object - fence post - wrong taxi route - inadvertent use, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis After the pilot made a 10-minute daylight flight and landing to an unfamiliar airport, he received taxi instructions from the ground controller. The pilot was talking to the ground and inadvertently turned onto a vehicular access road and collided with 22 construction fence posts. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 1996, at 1610 hours Pacific daylight time, a Piper PA-24-250, N6420P, operated by the private pilot, taxied into fence posts following landing at the McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial pilot nor the two passengers were injured. The daytime flight originated from North Las Vegas at 1600. The pilot reported that he was not familiar with the airport. At the time of the collision he was communicating with the ground controller and was receiving taxi instructions to a fixed-base operator. The pilot indicated that when he heard a "thumping sound" he looked to the left and observed that the left "wing was being eaten by a construction fence." The pilot further reported that the controller indicated he had taxied onto a vehicular access road and had missed the desired taxiway turnoff. An examination of the airplane by an airplane mechanic from Eagle Jet Charter revealed that between 4 and 5 feet of the left wing's leading edge span had been crushed in an inward direction. Also, four wing ribs and two stringers were bent when the pilot collided with 22 fence posts near its facility. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6420P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6420P-2013-06-11), registration cancelled 2013-06-11, S/N 24-1530, built 1959 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-24-250 - Registry model: [Piper PA-24-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-24-250) (registry code 7102404) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1530 - Engines: Lycoming O-540-A1A5 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: L. Scott Brooksby - Registered owner: Acft. Instruction & Rental Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 23, 1995 - Departed: VGT, LAS VEGAS, NV - Destination: LAS, LAS VEGAS, NV - Airport: LAS, Mccarran International, runway 19R, 5,002 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 482 total, 73 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 8 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAS ## 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 19960614014059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960614014059A), Jun 14, 1996: Piper PA24250, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. Narrative: aircraft struck construction fence with left wing on access road near taxiway r while inbound to eagle aviation. Minor damage; no injuries. No NMAC… 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.