# NTSB WPR09FA165: Beech 200, N257NA, Henderson, NV, March 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 22, 2009, 19:05 local (Mar 23, 2009, 02:05 UTC) - Place: Henderson, NV - Coordinates: 35.972221, -115.136947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9722&lon=-115.1369&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73552 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09FA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73552/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73552 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09FA165 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to monitor and 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 200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=1152920), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition; cases with it: [Beech 200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=1152920), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech 200, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1152920), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airline transport rated pilot landed the airplane and taxied to the operator's hangar. As the airplane approached the ramp, he observed a tug positioned in front of the hangar. He elected to turn the airplane directly towards the tug instead of the usual deplaning area. As he maneuvered the airplane, the right wing struck a tree located at the corner of the hangar. The right wing sustained substantial damage during the accident sequence. The pilot reported that he was familiar with the ramp area, and has had prior experience taxing in the area. The copilot was completing the post flight checklist at the time of the accident and did not observe the tree. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On March 22, 2009, at 1905 Pacific daylight time, a Beech 200, N257NA, collided with a tree while taxiing after landing at Henderson Executive Airport (HND), Henderson, Nevada. Southern Nevada Jet Charter was operating the airplane as an on-demand air taxi flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. The certificated airline transport pilot and copilot, and two passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The flight departed Napa County Airport (APC), Napa, California, about 1700. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported landing the airplane on runway 35 left and taxiing to the operator's hangar located on the west side of the airport. As the airplane approached the ramp, he observed a tug positioned in front of the hangar. He elected to turn the airplane directly towards the tug instead of the usual deplaning area. He turned the airplane, aligning it with the tug, and shortly thereafter, the right wing impacted a tree located at the southeast corner of the hangar. The pilot reported that he was familiar with the ramp area, and has had prior experience taxing in the area. The copilot reported that as the airplane approached the hangar he observed the tug located about 10 feet laterally from the hangar door. He stated that it was his understanding that the pilot would park in the deplaning area, therefore, he looked down to complete his post flight checklist. He then felt the airplane jolt and realized they had struck a tree. Both the pilot and copilot reported the light conditions to be approaching dusk, and that the hangar and tug lights were on. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Pilot A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the 45-year-old pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multiengine land. He held a certified flight instructor (CFI) certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He held a first-class medical certificate with no limitations or waivers, and reported a total flight time of 6,700 hours, 200 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model. Copilot A review of FAA airman records revealed that the 62-year-old copilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multiengine land. He held a first-class medical certificate with the limitation that he must wear corrective lenses, and reported a total flight time of 17,850 hours, 200 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The closest aviation weather observation station was located at the accident airport. An aviation routine weather report (METAR) was issued at 1856, it stated clear skies with 10 miles visibility. According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, the sun set at Henderson at 1854, with the end of civiltwilight at 1919. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The entrance to the hangar ramp area was approximately 190 feet wide. The wingspan of the accident airplane was 54 feet 6 inches. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N257NA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N257NA-2009-08-19), registration cancelled 2009-08-19, S/N BB-257, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 200 - Registry model: [Beech 200](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-200) (registry code 1152920) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6A-41](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6a-41) (registry code 61541, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BB-257 - Airframe hours: 7628 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6A-41 850 horsepower turbo prop; Pratt and Whitney PT6A-41 850 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Southern Nevada Jet Charter, doing business as Seven Delta Romeo - Registered owner: Dihe Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, September 1, 2008 - Departed: APC, Napa County, CA - Destination: HND, Henderson, NV - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: HND, Henderson Executive Airport, runway 35L, 6,501 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 6,700 total, 200 in this make and model, 4,940 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 320° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: HND ## 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 20090322003909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090322003909A), Mar 22, 2009: Beech 200BEECH, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 22,2008, about 1905 pacific daylight time, a Beech 200, N257A, collided with a tree while taxiing after landing at Henderson Executive Airport… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73552. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317366&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317385&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Copilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317384&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Copilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Accident Site Diagram (item 4, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317367&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Wing Damage (item 5, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317371&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Wing%20Damage-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Wing Damage (item 6, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317372&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Wing%20Damage-Master.PDF - Sun and Moon Data (item 7, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317370&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Sun%20and%20Moon%20Data-Master.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.