# NTSB MIA08CA012: Piper PA-31-350, N980JH, Tuscaloosa, AL, November 5, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: November 4, 2007, 23:10 local (Nov 5, 2007, 04:10 UTC)
- Place: Tuscaloosa, AL
- Coordinates: 33.220554, -87.611389
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2206&lon=-87.6114&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Birmingham FSDO-09
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67012
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67012/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA012

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain a visual look out while taxing resulting in an on-ground collision with a parked airplane.

## 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
  - light condition - dark night
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - aircraft parked/standing

## Analysis

The Piper pilot stated he received his instrument flight rules clearance from ground control, and was cleared to taxiway Foxtrot and Alpha en-route to runway 04 for takeoff. He taxied slowly on the taxiway centerline using the taxi and landing lights. The pilot noticed a parked airplane to his right and applied brakes. The airplane yawed to the left, and the right wing of the airplane collided with the left side of the fuselage of a parked Cessna Citation. The pilot stopped the airplane, notified ground control that he had collided with another airplane, and performed an engine shut down. The pilot exited the airplane and determined that both airplanes had received substantial damage.

## Factual narrative

The Piper pilot stated he received his instrument flight rules clearance from ground control, and was cleared to taxiway Foxtrot and Alpha en-route to runway 04 for takeoff. He taxied slowly on the taxiway centerline using the taxi and landing lights. The pilot noticed a parked airplane to his right and applied brakes. The airplane yawed to the left, and the right wing of the airplane collided with the left side of the fuselage of a parked Cessna Citation. The pilot stopped the airplane, notified ground control that he had collided with another airplane, and performed an engine shut down. The pilot exited the airplane and determined that both airplanes had received substantial damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N980JH (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-31-350
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 31-8052179
- Airframe hours: 6290
- Engines: Lycoming TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Air Southeast Inc.
- Registered owner: Air Southeast Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, October 1, 2007, 1 hours before
- Departed: KTCL, Tuscaloosa, AL
- Destination: KRYY, Marietta, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: KTCL, Tuscaloosa Regional Airport, runway 11, 4,001 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 13,720 total, 800 in this make and model, 7,250 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: TCL

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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