- Date
- May 2, 1999, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Columbus, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N5815ECessna 172
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 18, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19990502020149A
- Case key
- 46198
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 pilot's failure to maintain obstacle clearance and his visual perception of the perimeter road as Taxiway Charlie. A factor in the accident was the absence of a sign identifying the perimeter road.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot requested a progressive taxi from the ground controller. The controller told her to taxi south, out of the 'Airnet ramp', and make a left turn to the east, onto Taxiway Charlie. The pilot taxied south, and noticed a 'C' (charlie) taxiway sign. She made a left turn onto a perimeter road, instead of the taxiway. After the left turn, the left wing of the airplane struck a fence. A review of photographs revealed that there was no sign identifying the perimeter road. Additionally, the airport diagram used by the pilot did not depict the perimeter road.
Factual narrative
On May 2, 1999, about 1245 Eastern Daylight Time, a Cessna 172, N5815E, was substantially damaged while taxiing at the Port Columbus International Airport (CMH), Columbus Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91.
According to the pilot, she requested a progressive taxi to Runway 10L from the ground controller. The controller told her to taxi south, out of the "Airnet ramp", and make a left turn to the east, onto Taxiway Charlie. The pilot taxied south, and noticed a "C" (charlie) taxiway sign. She made a left turn onto a perimeter road, instead of the taxiway. After the left turn, the left wing of the airplane struck a fence. The pilot further stated that she had never been to CMH before.
A review of photographs revealed that their was no sign identifying the perimeter road. However, the road is marked by dashed white lines at the center. Additionally, the airport diagram used by the pilot did not depict the perimeter road.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The Inspector observed spar damage to the left wing.
According to representatives from the CMH Port Authority, the perimeter road has been in place for approximately 2 years. During that time, there have been no other known incidents or accidents in which a pilot mistook the road for a taxiway.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5815E
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17271942
- Airframe hours
- 1,524
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Kathy H. Miller
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 8, 1998 · 33 hours before
- Departed
- CMH
- Destination
- M21 · Greenville, KY
- Airport
- CMH · Port Columbus Intl
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 835 total · 603 in this make and model · 776 as pilot in command · 18 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CMH
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.