- Date
- July 23, 2010, 06:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ephrata, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N6139MCessna 152
- Defining event
- Taxi-to runway: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20100723039819A
- Case key
- 76761
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fire hydrant while taxiing to the runway.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The certificated flight instructor (CFI) reported that he was taxiing the airplane to the active runway. As he came around a hangar he noted that the sun was extremely bright, as it was just on the horizon. The CFI then taxied the airplane into a fire hydrant, resulting in damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. The CFI reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Factual narrative
In a written statement, the certificated flight instructor (CFI) reported that he was taxiing the airplane to the active runway. As he came around a hangar, he noted the sun was extremely bright, as it was cresting on the horizon. The CFI taxied the airplane into a fire hydrant; the right horizontal stabilizer was damaged as a result of the impact. The CFI reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N6139M
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15284630
- Airframe hours
- 13,832
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235 SERIES, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 1, 2010
- Departed
- EPH · Ephrata, WA
- Destination
- EPH · Ephrata, WA
- Airport
- EPH · Ephrata Municipal Airport
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 29
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 8, 2010
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 445 total · 123 in this make and model · 347 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 17
- Injuries
- None
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1 total · 1 in this make and model · 0 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- EPH
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.3 MB in all.
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 N6139M · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.