# NTSB WPR21LA240: Cessna T206, N881HP, Apple Valley, CA, June 23, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 22, 2021, 23:55 local (Jun 23, 2021, 06:55 UTC) - Place: Apple Valley, CA · Airport - Coordinates: 34.570937, -117.19035 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5709&lon=-117.1903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 103322 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103322/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103322 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA240 ## Probable cause The pilot's distraction due to adjusting the radio while taxing at night, which resulted in a taxiway excursion and subsequent impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Light condition: dark](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 448 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036020/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna T206H, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073303), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while taxiing the airplane from the ramp to the runway in nighttime conditions he noted the location of the two sets of taxiway lights that indicate the location of the ramp entrance to taxiway alpha. The pilot then reached down to configure the radio and when he looked back outside to the left, he saw one row of two blue taxiway lights, however he did not see the other set of taxiway lights to the left of the set he initially saw and believed that what he saw was the first row (north side). He immediately applied left rudder input to turn but the airplane suddenly stopped, as the airplane had exited the taxiway ramp and impacted a drainage culvert. The aft section of the fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N881HP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N881HP), registered now, S/N T20608234, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA T206 (H) - Registry model: [Cessna T206H](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t206h) (registry code 2073303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming TIO-540-AJ1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-tio-540-aj1a) (registry code 42004, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T20608234 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 15157.6 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-AJ1A 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: California Highway Patrol - Registered owner: California Highway Patrol - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, June 17, 2021, 21.9 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: APV, Apple Valley - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; seat: right; flight hours: 2,835 total, 1,951 in this make and model, 2,418 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days - Other flight crew; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 24, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 641 total, 4 in this make and model, 570 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KGXA, 24 nm away - METAR: KGXA 230658Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM FEW170 22/M02 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP101 WND DATA ESTMD T02151025 ## 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 20210622014889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210622014889A), Jun 22, 2021: Cessna T206H, Apple Valley, CA, Substantial damage. The California highway patrol airplane taxied into a ditch while moving from its parking area in front of the airport's airborne law enforcement hangar to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 22, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103322. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12714080&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20240_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 621 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12678011&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20240-Rel.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.