# NTSB MIA99LA004: Mooney M20J, N4297H, Orlando, FL, October 4, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 1998, 23:00 local (Oct 4, 1998, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.560152, -81.350616 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5602&lon=-81.3506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44111 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44111/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA004 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain clearance while taxiing from landing resulting in the on-ground collision with the parked airplane. A factor in the accident was the intentional operation of the airplane by the pilot with known deficiencies in equipment (inoperative landing light) during a night flight. ## 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 - landing light(s) - inoperative - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis While taxiing after landing with a previously known inoperative landing light and with the windows fogged due to moisture, the airplane was taxied past a taxi line which required a change in direction to the left. The right wing of the airplane collided with the left wing of an airplane parked on a non-movement area of the ramp. The taxilane markings allowed for adequate clearance from all obstructions for the accident airplane. The weather conditions at the time of the accident included light rain and according to the pilot, it was a dark night. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 1998, about 2300 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J, registered to Flight Express, Inc., operated by Flight, Inc., collided with a parked airplane while taxiing after landing at the Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, and one passenger were not injured. The flight originated about 2215 from the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida. The pilot stated that he first noticed that the landing light was inoperative while taxiing after sunset to takeoff for the first leg of the planned two-leg cross-country flight. The first leg of the flight was uneventful. Due to the time of day, maintenance was unavailable there and he elected to depart for the final leg of the flight where an uneventful landing occurred. While taxiing toward the ramp at a rate of about 5 miles per hour, he reported that the windows fogged up due to rain and the area that he was taxiing, contained no lighting. He noted the silohouette of a helicopter to his left and while taxiing to avoid the helicopter, he felt a bump, then a slow impact, followed by the immediate stopping of the engine. Both he and the passenger exited the airplane, recognized what had happened, and contacted the tower. He further reported that the airport police arrived about 2-3 minutes later. Examination of the accident site revealed that the right wing of the Mooney airplane collided with the left wing of an airplane which was parked on a nonmovement area. Examination of the markings on the taxiway to taxilane near the north ramp area was performed by a program manager of the Orlando Airports District Office. The taxilane object-free area was measured and found to be 41 feet either side of the taxiway centerline, which for the accident airplane would allow for 23.5 feet clearance. The distance from the taxilane centerline to the edge of the pavement where the helicopter was parked was found to be 59 feet. The taxilane markings leading into the north ramp area makes a slight deviation to the left to avoid the tie down spaces for parked airplanes on the nonment area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4297H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4297H), registered now, S/N 24-0699, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0699 - Airframe hours: 9545 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Flight, Inc. - Registered owner: Flight Express, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 8, 1998, 69 hours before - Departed: LAL, LAKELAND, FL - Destination: ORL - Airport: ORL, Orlando Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 891 total, 43 in this make and model, 763 as pilot in command, 144 in the last 90 days, 91 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ORL ## 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 19981003035379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981003035379A), Oct 3, 1998: Mooney M20J, Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. On October 3, 1998, about 2315 eastern daylight time, a Mooney M20J, registered to flight express, inc., collided with a parked airplane while taxing after… 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.