# NTSB WPR24LA013: Cessna 340A, N682JS, Boise, ID, October 12, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 12, 2023, 02:50 local (08:50 UTC) - Place: Boise, ID - Coordinates: 43.564361, -116.22286 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5644&lon=-116.2229&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 193236 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193236/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193236 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA013 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control while taxiing, which resulted in impact with a fence. ## 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: [Cessna 340A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/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: [Cessna 340A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 340A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2076405), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis While taxiing for departure in night visual meteorological conditions, the airplane drifted left of the taxiway centerline and the left wingtip impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage and a postimpact fire when the left wingtip fuel tank was breached. Although the pilot reported that the right brake failed while attempting to stop, review of surveillance video footage indicated that the airplane was traveling at a relatively constant speed with no noticeable change in speed or direction before impact with the fence. Examination of the airplane’s brake system, nose wheel steering system, wheels, and tires revealed no evidence of any failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain directional control while taxiing, which resulted in impact with the fence. ## Factual narrative On October 12, 2023, about 0250 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 340A airplane, N682JS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field, (BOI) Boise, Idaho. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 repositioning flight. The pilot reported that, while taxiing for departure, the right brake failed while he was attempting to stop the airplane. The airplane veered left and subsequently impacted the airport perimeter fence, resulting in a fire when the left wingtip fuel tank was breached. Examination of the airplane’s brake system revealed continuity to each wheel brake and appropriate servicing of the brakes’ cylinders. The brakes were cycled, activated, and released appropriately. The wheels and tires were examined, and no anomalies were noted. Examination of the nose wheel steering system was accomplished by jacking up the nose wheel and verifying proper nosewheel and rudder deflection. There was no evidence of a failure or malfunction that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane. A review of airport surveillance video captured the airplane taxiing and the impact with the fence. In the seconds before impact, the airplane did not noticeably slow down or change direction. The video indicated that the airplane was traveling the same direction and gradually drifted to the left until the wingtip tank made contact with the fence and the airplane pivoted around the left wingtip, which became embedded in the fence. There was a tire skid mark right of the taxi throughway that was offset about the distance of the airplane’s right main landing gear tire. The black skid mark was narrow and veered to the left across the centerline and into the area of the fence impact, consistent with the airplane’s right main tire being side-loaded and not locked. No other tire skid markings were noted in the area. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N682JS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N682JS), registered now, S/N 340A1237, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A - Registry model: [Cessna 340A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-340a) (registry code 2076405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340A1237 - Year built: 1981 - Airframe hours: 12085 - Engines: Continental TSIO-520-NB 225 horsepower reciprocating; Continental TSIO-520-NB 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Operator: Western Airlines Lc - Registered owner: Western Airlines Lc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, October 12, 2023 - Destination: SFF, Spokane, WA - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: BOI, Boise AIr Terminal/Gowen Field - Equipment: ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2023; seat: left; flight hours: 4,560 total, 240 in this make and model, 3,890 as pilot in command, 121 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 320° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: KBOI, 1 nm away - METAR: METAR KBOI 120853Z AUTO 32005KT 10SM CLR 07/04 A2991 RMK AO2 SLP126 T00670044 53014 ## 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 20231012012369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231012012369A), Oct 12, 2023: Cessna 340A, Boise, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot was taxing from the hanger to the runway and ran the left-wing tip tank into a chainlink fence. Fuel came out of the tank and caught fire. Airport fire… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 26, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193236. 41.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18133679&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe examination summary report (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 422 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18138496&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA013%20Airframe%20Examination%20Report-Rel.pdf - Airport surveillance video (courtesy of airport operations) (item 3, ASF, 39.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18133689&FileExtension=asf&FileName=Video%20%233%20Taxi%20%26%20Fence%20Impact-Rel.asf 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.