# NTSB WPR14CA328: Beech A36 - Undesignat, N17856, San Carlos, CA, July 30, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 30, 2014, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: San Carlos, CA - Coordinates: 37.49007, -122.259429 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4901&lon=-122.2594&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89803 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA328 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89803/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89803 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA328 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during taxi. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after landing and after turning left onto the taxiway, "the engine slowed." He then added power to keep the airplane turning to the left, but experienced very little braking on the left brake. The pilot stated he believed that at about this time he may have gotten the heal of his left foot over the right rudder pedal, which rendered his attempt to turn [left] being unsuccessful. Subsequently, the right wing of his airplane contacted the right wing of a parked airplane, which was facing the opposite direction. The right wing was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane's left brake revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that after landing and after turning left onto the taxiway, "the engine slowed." He then added power to keep the airplane turning to the left, but experienced very little braking on the left brake. The pilot stated he believed that at about this time he may have gotten the heal of his left foot over the right rudder pedal, which rendered his attempt to turn [left] being unsuccessful. Subsequently, the right wing of his airplane contacted the right wing of a parked airplane, which was facing the opposite direction. The right wing was substantially damaged. A postaccident examination of the airplane's left brake revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N17856 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - UNDESIGNAT (UNDESIGNAT) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E1047 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 3238 - Engines: Continental IO550B 12B 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Walter Ramseur - Registered owner: Walter Ramseur - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2013, 21 hours before - Departed: 1O2, Lakeport, CA - Destination: SQL, San Carlos, CA - Airport: SQL, San Carlos Airport, runway 30, 2,600 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 91; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 9, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 25,000 total, 1,320 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: SQL ## 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 20140730019809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140730019809A), Jul 30, 2014: Beech A36, San Carlos, CA, Minor damage. On July 30, 2014 aircraft N17856 landed at San Carlos Airport and taxied to the non-movement area on the west side of the airport. He started a turn down an… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89803. 9.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 7.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416797&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Report (item 2, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 3, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416799&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Left Wing (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416800&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.