# NTSB WPR11CA257: Mooney M20K, N5765D, Page, AZ, June 12, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 11, 2011, 20:30 local (Jun 12, 2011, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Page, AZ - Coordinates: 36.926109, -111.448333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9261&lon=-111.4483&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 80738 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80738/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80738 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA257 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of the wrong taxi route and failure to follow prescribed taxi procedures. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: taxiway markings/signage](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017040): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Compliance w/ procedure (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017040/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017040/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mooney M20K, 28 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=5870220), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was taxiing from the transient parking towards the runway for takeoff. It was dusk at the time and he was proceeding at a walking pace (2-3 miles per hour) to the taxiway when he encountered a large ditch at the end of the tarmac. The airplane rolled into the ditch bending the propeller and the empennage. The pilot commented that there were no signs, reflectors, warnings, or other indications that the ditch was there. The airport manager reported that the taxi route from the transient area is clearly marked with in-ground reflectors which lead to a lit taxiway and then to the runway. According to the manager, it appeared the pilot proceeded directly to the taxiway from the transient parking area where he was parked. He crossed a set of double solid lines that demarcate the taxiway edge, and continued into a helicopter operating/parking area. From there he crossed a marked service road, past a helicopter landing pad, and past a lit windsock before impacting the drainage ditch. The airport manager further reported that since the area is clearly marked and only intended for helicopter traffic there is no extra signage warning of the ditch. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was taxiing from the transient parking towards the runway for takeoff. It was dusk at the time and he was proceeding at a walking pace (2-3 miles per hour) to the taxiway when he encountered a large ditch at the end of the tarmac. The airplane rolled into the ditch bending the prop and the empennage. The pilot commented that there were no signs, reflectors, warnings, or other indications that the ditch was there. The airport manager reported that the taxi route from the transient area is clearly marked with in ground reflectors which lead to a lit taxiway and then the runway. The manager stated that it appears that from the transient parking area where the pilot was parked he proceeded directly to the taxiway, crossing a set of double solid lines that demarcate the taxiway edge, and crossed into a helicopter operating/parking area. From there he crossed a marked service road, past a helicopter landing pad, and past a lit windsock and into the drainage ditch. The airport manager further reported that as the area is clearly marked and only intended for helicopter traffic there is no extra signage warning of the ditch. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5765D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5765D-2017-10-20), registration cancelled 2017-10-20, S/N 25-0833, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY AIRCRAFT CORP. M20K - Registry model: [Mooney M20K](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20k) (registry code 5870220) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 25-0833 - Airframe hours: 2055 - Engines: Contenental IO-360-L 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pacific Medical Communication Inc DBA - Registered owner: Pacific Medical Communication Inc DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 2011, 50 hours before - Departed: KPGA, Page, AZ - Destination: KPGA, Page, AZ - Airport: KPGA, Page Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review October 6, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 2,432 total, 632 in this make and model, 1,261 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KPGA ## 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 20110611012949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110611012949A), Jun 11, 2011: Mooney Aircraft Corp. M20K, Page, AZ, Substantial damage. PIC taxied his aircraft, with the intention of flight, into a ditch adjacent to a helicopter pad located near where the aircraft had been parked. When exiting… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80738. 636 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 314 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350356&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Airport Manager Statement (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40349736&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airport%20Manager%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Aircraft at rest in ditch. Photo supplied by airport. (item 4, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20%20Aircraft%20at%20rest%20in%20ditch.%20Photo%20supplied%20by%20airport.-Master.PDF - Photo 2. Damage to the empennage. Photo supplied by airport. (item 5, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202.%20Damage%20to%20the%20empennage.%20%20Photo%20supplied%20by%20airport.-Master.PDF - Photo 3. Frontal view of aircraft in ditch. Photo supplied by airport. (item 6, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203.%20Frontal%20view%20of%20aircraft%20in%20ditch.%20Photo%20supplied%20by%20airport.-Master.PDF - Photo 4. View of ditch from transient parking. Photo supplied by airport. (item 7, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204.%20View%20of%20ditch%20from%20transient%20parking.%20%20Photo%20supplied%20by%20airport.-Master.PDF - Photo 5. Aerial view of pilot's taxi route vs. FAA Approved route. (item 8, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205.%20Aerial%20view%20of%20pilot%27s%20taxi%20route%20vs.%20FAA%20Approved%20route.-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.