# NTSB LAX99LA117: Piper PA-28-150, N5346W, Rubidoux, CA, March 13, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 13, 1999, 12:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Rubidoux, CA - Location: 33.9888° N, 117.4099° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at FLABOB (RIR), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9888&lon=-117.4099&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45905 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45905/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from parked airplanes while taxiing due to 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 - to takeoff - object - aircraft parked/standing - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while taxiing for takeoff he became distracted with paperwork on the airplane's dashboard and failed to maintain an adequate clearance with other parked airplanes along the taxiway. The airplane's wing collided with three parked airplanes. In the pilot's completed report, he reported that the accident could have been prevented had he not diverted his attention while taxiing. ## Factual narrative On March 13, 1999, at 1215 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-150, N5346W, owned and operated by the pilot, collided with three parked airplanes while taxiing for takeoff at the uncontrolled Flabob Airport, Rubidoux, California. Neither the commercial pilot nor his three passengers were injured during the planned local area personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight which was being performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, while in the process of beginning an orientation flight for a youth group he became distracted with paperwork on the dashboard. His airplane's right wing impacted the unoccupied airplanes. In the pilot's completed report, he reported that the accident could have been prevented had he not diverted his attention while taxiing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5346W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5346W-2002-01-11), registration cancelled 2002-01-11, S/N 28-405, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-150 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-150) (registry code 7102804) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-405 - Airframe hours: 3412 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald A. Moore - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 1999, 3 hours before - Departed: RIR - Airport: RIR, Flabob, runway 24, 3,200 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 509 total, 134 in this make and model, 494 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RAL, 3 nm away ## 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 19990313002239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990313002239A), Mar 13, 1999: Piper PA28150, Riverside/Rubid, CA, Substantial damage. Acft was taxiing for take-off when it struck 3 parked acft (registration numbers and types unknown), N5346W has substantial damage, the other 3 acft have minor… ## Other investigations on N5346W (2) 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 LAX01LA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA265), Jul 31, 2001: Piper PA-28-150 (N5346W), Hesperia, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion while maneuvering in an attempt to locate the runway. Contributing factors were the inadequate runway maintenance that resulted in inoperative runway… - [NTSB UNK64X2631](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/UNK64X2631), Jul 4, 1964: Piper PA-28 (N5346W), Fresno, CA, substantial damage 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.