# NTSB WPR12LA443: Beech V35A, N6278V, Torrance, CA, September 28, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 2012, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Torrance, CA - Coordinates: 33.803333, -118.339447 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8033&lon=-118.3394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-from runway: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 11, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA443 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85297/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85297 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA443 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during taxi, which resulted in a collision with a parked vehicle. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1151544), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Beech V35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1151544), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Beech V35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=1151544), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Beech V35A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1151544), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot landed the airplane and received a clearance to taxi to his hangar. During taxi, he attempted to make a left turn and found that, despite applying full left pedal, the airplane would not turn. The airplane veered off the taxiway surface and continued onto the main ramp area. The pilot could not stop the airplane before its left wing collided with a parked vehicle located on the ramp. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 2012, about 1430 Pacific daylight time, a Beechcraft BE-V35A, N6278V, taxied into a parked vehicle at Zamperini Field, Torrance, California. The pilot, who owned the airplane, was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The certified flight instructor, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal local flight departed El Monte Airport, El Monte, California about 1400 with a planned destination of Torrance. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.In a written statement, the pilot reported that he landed and received a clearance to taxi to his hangar. During taxi, he attempted to make a left turn and found that despite inputting full left pedal, the airplane would not turn. The airplane veered off the taxiway surface into the dirt median and continued onto the main ramp area. The pilot could not stop the airplane prior to its left wing colliding with a parked vehicle that was located on the ramp. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector and aviation mechanic performed a postaccident examination of the airplane. The FAA inspector stated that the ruddervator system was examined from the cockpit to the ruddervators and there was no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures. The nose wheel steering was also inspected and operationally checked while the airplane was on jacks and no abnormalities were discovered. The inspector found no anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6278V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6278V), registered now, S/N D-8602, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH V35A - Registry model: [Beech V35A](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35a) (registry code 1151544) (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-8602 - Airframe hours: 2823 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520-B2A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, September 26, 2012, 2 hours before - Departed: EMT, El Monte, CA - Destination: TOA, Torrance, CA - Airport: TOA, Zamperini Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 3,470 total, 460 in this make and model, 3,050 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: TOA ## 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 20120928022849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120928022849A), Sep 28, 2012: Beech V35A, Torrance, CA, Substantial damage. September 28,2012 at approximately 1510 hrs PDT Beechcraft bonanza N6278V crossed the infield grass area between taxi way charlie and alpha at the north west… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85297. 642 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 609 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379153&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40380333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF - Mechanic Statement (item 3, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mechanic%20Statement-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.