# NTSB WPR24LA306: Piper PA-28-181, N3044U, Yuma, AZ, September 2, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 2, 2024, 01:15 local (08:15 UTC) - Place: Yuma, AZ - Coordinates: 32.656574, -114.60598 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6566&lon=-114.6060&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 195134 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195134/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195134 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA306 ## Probable cause The flight instructor’s failure to maintain clearance from a fence during taxi operations. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: fence/fence post](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 313 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022047/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=7102807), [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: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the flight instructor, she was taxiing with a student when she took control and made a left turn to position the airplane between a fence and a fuel station. However, she reported that during the left turn, she misjudged the airplane’s clearance and the airplane’s left wing struck the fence. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. The flight instructor reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3044U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3044U), registered now, S/N 2843572, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2843572 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 5823.7 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Bird Acquisition LLC DBA, doing business as AeroGuard Flight Training Center - Registered owner: Bird Acquisition LLC DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, August 25, 2024 - Departed: DVT, Phoenix, AZ - Destination: YNL, Yuma, AZ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KNYL, Yuma Marine Corps Air Station/Yuma International Airport - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 12, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 853.4 total, 556.1 in this make and model, 740 as pilot in command, 147 in the last 90 days, 38.9 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 23; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 99 total, 99 in this make and model, 27.3 as pilot in command, 60.8 in the last 90 days, 9.8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 106 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: YNL, 40 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 20240902014109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240902014109A), Sep 2, 2024: Piper PA-28-181, Yuma, AZ, Substantial damage. On September 28th, 2024 the instructor was conducting a cross-country flight to knyl, in a Piper PA-28, [privacy data omitted]. While on the ground in… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 13, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195134. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17796871&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photograph (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 310 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17797079&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N3044U%20Photographs-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.