- Date
- July 13, 2008, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Norfolk, VA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N956CTDiamond DA20-C1
- Defining event
- Taxi-to runway: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 26, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Richmond FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20080713841629A
- Case key
- 68503
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 flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the student pilot while taxiing for takeoff. A factor contributing to the accident was the student pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The student pilot (SP) stated he added a little more power than required to start the taxi. His flight instructor (CFI) informed him to decrease the power, and looked down to tune the airplane radios. The SP initiated a right turn towards the runway, and to avoid a parked airplane. The SP did not see a light pole that was off the left side of the airplane, and the left wing collided with the light pole. Full brakes were applied by the CFI, and the airplane came to stop. When asked if the flight instructor said anything before the collision, the SP stated "no." The student pilot stated he just failed to see the pole while maneuvering to the right, resulting in the left wing colliding with the pole.
Factual narrative
The student pilot (SP) stated he added a little more power than required to start the taxi. His flight instructor (CFI) informed him to decrease the power. and looked down to tune the airplane radios. The SP initiated a right turn towards the runway and to avoid a parked airplane. The SP did not see a light pole that was located off the left side of the airplane, and the left wing collided with the light pole. The airplane rotated a little to the left. Full brakes were applied by the CFI and the airplane came to stop. When asked if the flight instructor said anything before the collision, the SP stated no. The student pilot stated, he just failed to see the pole while maneuvering to the right resulting in the left wing colliding with the pole.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N956CT
- Reported as
- Diamond DA20-C1
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- C0116
- Airframe hours
- 2,000
- Engine
- Continental IO-240, 125 lbs thrust, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Tidewater Flight Center LLC
- Registered owner
- Tidewater Flight Center LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 1, 2008 · 0.3 hours before
- Departed
- KCPK · Norfolk, VA
- Airport
- KCPK · Chesapeake Regional Airport
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 22
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 440 total · 40 in this make and model · 390 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 18
- Injuries
- None
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8 total · 7 in this make and model · 8 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.80 inHg
- Observed at
- KCPK
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.