# NTSB WPR09CA274: Piper PA-38-112, N25353, Grangeville, ID, May 28, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2009, 12:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Grangeville, ID - Coordinates: 45.942501, -116.123336 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9425&lon=-116.1233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73942 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA274 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73942/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73942 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA274 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during taxi. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: sign/marker](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 214 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Wrong surface or wrong airport](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/284/sequence.md) - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Piper PA-38-112, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7103812), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot landed the airplane and exited the runway at a taxiway. As he taxied the airplane to a fueling facility he inadvertently turned onto a roadway designated for automobile traffic. A short time later he became distracted by an automobile, and the left wing struck a sign post. The airplane then departed the roadway and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing during the accident sequence. ## Factual narrative The student pilot landed the airplane and exited the runway at a taxiway. As he taxied the airplane to a fueling facility he inadvertently turned onto a roadway designated for automobile traffic. A short time later he became distracted by an automobile, and the left wing struck a sign post. The airplane then departed the roadway and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing during the accident sequence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25353](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25353-2012-01-23), registration cancelled 2012-01-23, S/N 38-80A0115, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-38-112 - Registry model: [Piper PA-38-112](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-38-112) (registry code 7103812) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 38-80A0115 - Airframe hours: 4843 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2008 - Departed: S73, Kamiah, ID - Destination: S80, Grangeville, ID - Airport: S80, Grangeville, runway 25, 5,101 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 43; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 29, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 50 total, 47 in this make and model, 19 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: LWS, 45 nm away ## 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 20090528008549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090528008549A), May 28, 2009: Piper PA38112, Grangeville, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) Student pilot departed S73 and flew to S80 to get fuel. Aft landing on rwy 25 he exited the runway to the left and began taxiing to the fuel facility on… ## Other investigations on N25353 (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI83LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI83LA079), Jan 12, 1983: Piper PA-38-112 (N25353), Springfield, OH, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73942. 304 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 304 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314777&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.