# NTSB MIA94LA184: Piper PA-28-161, N9236L, Naples, FL, July 25, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 25, 1994, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Naples, FL
- Location: 26.1524° N, 81.7756° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at NAPLES MUNI (APF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1524&lon=-81.7756&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 37578
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA184
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37578/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA184

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND TO MAINTAIN WINGTIP CLEARANCE WHILE TAXIING RESULTING IN THE ON-GROUND COLLISION WITH A LIGHT POLE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - object - pole
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

WHILE TAXIING ON A RAMP AND FOLLOWING A 'FOLLOW ME' TRUCK THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH A LIGHT POLE.

## Factual narrative

On July 25, 1994, about 1030 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28, N9236L, registered to Flight Safety International, collided with a light pole while taxiing in a ramp area at the Naples Municipal Airport, Naples, Florida, while on a 14 CFR 141 instructional flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a VFR flight plan was filed.  The aircraft was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  The flight originated in Vero Beach, Florida, about 0857.

The student pilot taxied the aircraft to a ramp area and when a line service individual recognized that the pilot was not familiar with the ramp, the line service individual drove a "follow me" truck to meet the airplane.  The follow me truck was proceeding to a spot to park the airplane when the left wing of the airplane collided with a light pole.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N9236L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9236L-2018-04-24), registration cancelled 2018-04-24, S/N 2841122, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161
- Registry model: [Piper PA-28-161](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-161) (registry code 7102803) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 2841122
- Airframe hours: 2872
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D3G 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Flight Safety International
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, July 5, 1994, 52 hours before
- Departed: VRB, VERO BEACH, FL
- Destination: APF
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: APF, Naples Municipal

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; student; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 35 total, 35 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APF, 1 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 19940725048099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940725048099A), Jul 25, 1994: Piper PA28161, Naples, FL, Substantial damage. Left wing struck light pole while following a follow me truck on the ramp to park.

## Other investigations on N9236L (1)

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 ERA14CA046](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA046), Nov 11, 2013: Piper PA 28-161 (N9236L), Clewiston, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.

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.