# NTSB WPR20CA120: Piper PA28R, N679X, Palm Springs, CA, March 31, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 31, 2020, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Palm Springs, CA - Coordinates: 33.748332, -116.274719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7483&lon=-116.2747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101151 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101151/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101151 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA120 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to see and avoid a parked vehicle near the taxiway edge. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: ground vehicle](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 132 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022025/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/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); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28R-201T, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102813), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while taxiing to the runway, the airplane veered hard to the left. He shut down the engine and saw that the left wing had struck the windshield of a small truck parked at the edge of the taxiway near a hangar. He stated that, due to its location and color, neither he nor his passenger saw the truck because it blended in with the background of the hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while taxiing to the runway, the airplane veered hard to the left. He shut down the engine and saw that the left wing had struck the windshield of a small truck that was parked at the edge of the taxiway. Neither he nor his passenger saw the truck as the color of the truck blended in with the background of a hangar. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N679X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N679X), registered now, S/N 28R-7703101, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA28R (201T) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201t) (registry code 7102813) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-360-series) (registry code 17019, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7703101 - Year built: 1977 - Airframe hours: 8288.5 - Engines: Continental TSIO-360-B1 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 5, 2019, 84 hours before - Departed: UDD, Palm Springs, CA - Destination: UDD, Palm Springs, CA - Airport: UDD, Bermuda Dunes - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 25, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 168 total, 96 in this make and model, 81 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 39; injuries: none; private, remote; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KPSP, 12 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 20200331004619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200331004619A), Mar 31, 2020: Piper PA-28R-201T, Bermuda Dunes, CA, Substantial damage. N679X was taxing on taxiway 10 at kudd when the pilot stated he stated that N679X veered hard left and collided with a truck that was on the taxiway. Left wing… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 27, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101151. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484033&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484034&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF - Damage Photo (item 3, .PDF, 103 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484035&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%20Photo-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.