# NTSB SEA06CA098: Cessna 172N, N739AJ, Billings, MT, April 30, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 30, 2006, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Billings, MT
- Coordinates: 45.807777, -108.542778
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8078&lon=-108.5428&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63702
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA098
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63702/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA098

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a sign while taxiing to parking.

## 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
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - object - sign

## Analysis

According to the pilot, as he was looking to his right to taxi into a parking place on the ramp, the airplane's left wing struck a sign pole.  His passenger tried to warn him about the sign, and he applied the brakes, but was unable to stop before contacting the sign.  An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported that the left wing sustained structural damage.

## Factual narrative

On April 30, 2006, about 1600 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 172N, N739AJ, collided with a sign while taxiing to parking at the Billings Logan International Airport, Billings, Montana.  The airplane, which was registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage.  The private pilot and his passenger were not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal cross country flight.  The flight originated in Lewiston, Idaho, about 1310, and the intended destination was Billings.

According to the pilot, as he was looking to his right to taxi into a parking place on the ramp, the airplane's left wing struck a sign pole.  His passenger tried to warn him about the sign, and he applied the brakes, but was unable to stop before contacting the sign.  An FAA inspector examined the airplane and reported that the left wing sustained structural damage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N739AJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N739AJ), registered now, S/N 17270387, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Cessna 172N
- Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17270387
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: LWS, Lewiston, ID
- Destination: BIL, Billings, MT
- Airport: BIL, Billings Logan International

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 56; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 849 total, 690 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## 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 20060430007179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060430007179A), Apr 30, 2006: Cessna 172N, Billings, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 30, 2006, at approximately 1600 mountain standard time, a Cessna 172N, N739AJ, registered to the pilot [privacy data omitted] collided with a…

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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