# NTSB SEA05CA159: Cessna 172M, N724TM, Hoquiam, WA, August 4, 2005

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 4, 2005, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Hoquiam, WA
- Coordinates: 46.974166, -123.938613
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9742&lon=-123.9386&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 27, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 62147
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05CA159
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62147/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA159

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence.  The fence was a factor.

## 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
  - object - fence (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The student pilot reported that as he was departing from the fuel island for taxi to the runway, he did not turn far enough to maintain wingtip clearance from a chain link fence just outside of the maneuvering area boundary line around the fuel island.  The wing impacted a fence post, resulting in the aircraft pivoting to the left around the post and then nosing into the fence.  The left wing contacted the post about five feet inboard from the wing tip, damaging the leading edge and the aileron.  The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On August 4, 2005, about 1330 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N724TM, registered to Morcom Aviation Services, doing business as Regal Air, as a 14 CFR Part 91 solo instructional flight, collided with a fence pole during taxi to takeoff at Bowerman Airport, Hoquiam, Washington.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight rules flight plan was filed.  The aircraft was substantially damaged and the student pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.

The student pilot reported that as he was departing from the fuel island for taxi to the runway and he did not turn far enough to maintain wingtip clearance from a chain link fence just outside of the maneuvering area boundary line around the fuel island.  The wing impacted a fence post, resulting in the aircraft pivoting to the left around the post and then nosing into the fence.  The left wing contacted the post about five feet inboard from the wing tip, damaging the leading edge and the aileron.

The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N724TM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N724TM), registered now, S/N 17262971, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172M
- Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17262971
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Morcom Aviation Services
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: Hoquiam, WA
- Destination: PAE, Everett, WA
- Flight plan: VFR
- Airport: HQM, Bowerman, runway 24

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 67; student; medical: class 3; flight hours: 83 total, 16 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day

## 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 20050804016339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050804016339A), Aug 4, 2005: Cessna 172M, Hoquiam, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot on his 3rd solo cross country fueled his own aircraft at Hoquiam. Pilot had never fueled an aircraft before. After fueling the aircraft,…

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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