# NTSB WPR11CA085: Piper PA-28-181, N443PA, Wickenburg, AZ, January 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 4, 2011, 10:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Wickenburg, AZ - Coordinates: 33.965831, -112.802223 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9658&lon=-112.8022&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 26, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78100/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78100 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA085 ## Probable cause The student pilot's failure to maintain clearance between the airplane's right wing and the pole. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/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: [Piper PA-28-181, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis While parking the airplane, the student pilot noticed a pole by the parking area. He thought that there was adequate clearance between the right wing and the pole. However, the leading edge of the right wing contacted the pole and resulted in substantial damage to the spar. ## Factual narrative The student pilot submitted a written statement. He had landed at his destination and was taxiing to parking. While parking the airplane, he noticed a pole by the parking area. He thought that there was adequate clearance between the right wing and the pole. However, the leading edge of the right wing contacted the pole and resulted in damage to the spar. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N443PA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N443PA), registered now, S/N 2843499, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843499 - Airframe hours: 11659 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bird Acquisition LLC, doing business as Transpac Aviation Academy - Registered owner: Bird Acquisition LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 3, 2011, 6 hours before - Departed: E63, Gila Bend, AZ - Destination: E25, Wickenburg, AZ - Airport: E25, Wickenburg Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 22; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 77 total, 77 in this make and model, 5 as pilot in command, 71 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KBXK, 33 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 20110104000079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110104000079A), Jan 4, 2011: Piper PA-28-181, Wickenburg, AZ, Substantial damage. During first solo cross country from deer valley airport (dvt) to deer valley airport (dvt) with landings in gila bend AZ, (E63) and Wickenburg, AZ (E25). The… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 21, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78100. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342242&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.