SEA05LA100

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152TW · Missoula, MT · May 12, 2005

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 12, 2005, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Missoula, MT
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N7866ZCessna 152TW
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 13, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Helena FSDO
FAA report
20050512007079A
Case key
61526

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a taxiway identification sign as he attempted to turn off the runway onto the taxiway during the last part of the landing roll. Factors include a taxiway identification sign in the vicinity of the intersection of the runway and the taxiway.

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.

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - airport sign/markerFactor

Analysis

The pilot, who landed on Runway 25, was cleared by the tower to turn off the runway at Taxiway Echo 4. While attempting to make the right-hand turn onto the taxiway, the pilot inadvertently turned too soon, and the aircraft collided with the runway identification sign near the intersection of the runway and the taxiway. The force of the impact resulted in the right main gear leg attachment box being bent and distorted. According to the pilot, there was nothing wrong with the aircraft's directional control system or brakes.

Factual narrative

On May 12, 2005, approximately 1500 mountain daylight time, a tailwheel-equipped Cessna 150TW, N7866Z, collided with a runway identification sign during the landing roll at Missoula International Airport, Missoula, Montana. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured, but the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed St. Ignatius, Montana, about 15 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. There was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, who landed on Runway 25, he was cleared by the tower to turn off the runway at Taxiway Echo 4. While attempting to make the right-hand turn onto the taxiway, the pilot inadvertently turned too soon, and the aircraft collided with the runway identification sign near the intersection of the runway and the taxiway. The force of the impact resulted in the right main gear leg attachment box being bent and distorted. According to the pilot, there was nothing wrong with the aircraft's directional control system or brakes.

Aircraft

Registration
N7866Z
Reported as
Cessna 152TW
Category
Airplane
Serial number
59966
Airframe hours
4,139
Engine
Continental O-320-B2B, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Jim C. Younkin
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · September 1, 2004 · 66 hours before
Departed
52S · St. Ignatius, MT
Destination
KMSO · Missoula, MT
Airport
KMSO · Missoula International, runway 25, 4,612 × 75 ft, asphalt

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

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
52
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
April 1, 2004
Seat
Left
Flight hours
390 total · 148 in this make and model · 360 as pilot in command · 66 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 4 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
64 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N7866Z · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.