# NTSB WPR09CA438: Beech S35, N272D, Fallon, NV, September 8, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: September 8, 2009, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Fallon, NV
- Coordinates: 39.498889, -118.748611 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4989&lon=-118.7486&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74699
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA438
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74699/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74699
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA438

## 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: [Beech S35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Beech S35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech S35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While taxiing the airplane from the hangar to the ramp area, the pilot became distracted and did not notice a turn in the taxiway. The airplane subsequently departed the taxiway and collided with a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

While taxiing the airplane from the hangar to the ramp area, the pilot became distracted and did not notice a turn in the taxiway. The airplane subsequently departed the taxiway and collided with a fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar during the accident sequence. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N272D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N272D-2015-04-30), registration cancelled 2015-04-30, S/N D-7463, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH S35
- Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: D-7463
- Airframe hours: 6150
- Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-B 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 10, 2009
- Departed: FLX, Fallon, NV
- Destination: FLX, Fallon, NV
- Flight plan: Unknown
- Airport: FLX, Fallon Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 62; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 6,300 total, 5,500 in this make and model, 6,300 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: NFL, 5 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 20090908018289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090908018289A), Sep 8, 2009: Beech S35, Fallon, NV, Substantial damage. Pilot was taxiing from his hangar to the airport ramp area. Just prior to this incident the pilot was at a friends house and was distraught over the death of…

## Other investigations on N272D (2)

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 WPR12LA116](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA116), Feb 25, 2012: Beech S35 (N272D), Dixie Valley, NV, substantial damage. Probable cause: The airplane’s encounter with forecast low-level windshear conditions during takeoff, which resulted in a loss of lift.
- [NTSB NYC76AN126](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC76AN126), Sep 8, 1976: Beech S35 (N272D), Block Island, RI, minor damage, 1 fatal

## Docket (1 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74699. 419 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 419 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319282&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.

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