Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Ground Collision: Beechcraft B300 King Air 350, N160RW and Socata TBM700N (TBM930), N961GG; accident occurred December 17, 2019 at Visalia Municipal Airport (KVIS), Tulare County, California








Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Fresno, California

N160RW  Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

https://registry.faa.gov/N160RW

Location: Visalia, CA
Accident Number: WPR20CA046A
Date & Time: 12/17/2019, 1116 PST
Registration: N160RW
Aircraft: Beech 350
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Ground collision
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that he was taxiing from the hangar to runway 12 via taxiway A. As he turned right onto taxiway D, his airplane impacted a multiengine airplane established on the taxiway, which he had not seen. The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that he was taxiing on taxiway D for runway 12 when the single-engine airplane entered taxiway D and impacted the right side of his airplane. According to the airport manager, there is a sign on taxiway A stating, "Stop and Hold." The multiengine airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The single-engine pilot's failure to yield to traffic established on the taxiway, which resulted in a ground collision.

Findings

Personnel issues
Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot of other aircraft (Cause)

Environmental issues
Aircraft - Effect on operation (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Taxi
Ground collision (Defining event)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 35, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 01/16/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 
Flight Time:   (Estimated) 5418.9 hours (Total, all aircraft), 257 hours (Total, this make and model), 5418.9 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 108.9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 35.2 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 0 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Beech
Registration: N160RW
Model/Series: 350
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1998
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: FL-226
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 11
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/23/2019, Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 15000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 2 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 4311.1 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: PT6A-60A
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 1050 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1056
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:   10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.29 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 10°C / 4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Vasalia, CA (VIS)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: San Luis Obisp, CA (SBP)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1045 PST
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Visalia Airport (KVIS)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 295 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 12
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 6562 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 36.325000, -119.398889

N961GG  Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


Location: Visalia, CA
Accident Number: WPR20CA046B
Date & Time: 12/17/2019, 1116 PST
Registration: N961GG
Aircraft: SOCATA TBM 700
Aircraft Damage: Minor
Defining Event: Ground collision
Injuries:2 None 
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that he was taxiing from the hangar to runway 12 via taxiway A. As he turned right onto taxiway D, his airplane impacted a multiengine airplane established on the taxiway, which he had not seen. The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that he was taxiing on taxiway D for runway 12 when the single-engine airplane entered taxiway D and impacted the right side of his airplane. According to the airport manager, there is a sign on taxiway A stating, "Stop and Hold." The multiengine airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The single-engine pilot's failure to yield to traffic established on the taxiway, which resulted in a ground collision.

Findings

Personnel issues
Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot (Cause)

Environmental issues
Aircraft - Effect on operation (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Taxi
Ground collision (Defining event) 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Commercial
Age: 55, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/06/2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 09/07/2019
Flight Time:   (Estimated) 16500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 85 hours (Total, this make and model), 15750 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 115 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 49 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1.5 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: SOCATA
Registration: N961GG
Model/Series: TBM 700
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2016
Amateur Built:No 
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 1111
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 6
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/28/2019,
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 7394 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 241.4 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series:PT6A-66D 
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 1050 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1056
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:   10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.29 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 10°C / 4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Visalia, CA (VIS)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Monterey, BC (MRY)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:1055 PST 
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Visalia Airport (KVIS)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation:295 ft 
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Minor
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude:   36.325000, -119.398889

Two planes collided while taxiing Tuesday morning at Visalia Municipal Airport.

The question now is, what happened?

The National Transportation Safety Board was called at 11 a.m. to take a report of a "mishap" at the airport, said Airport Superintendent Katherine Bales.

The two planes were moving down the taxiway when one plane clipped the other plane's wing, according to witnesses. The collision caused fuel to leak out of one of the planes.

The extent of the damage is still being evaluated. 

One plane belonged to local car dealer Don Groppetti. The other belonged to local farmers and ranchers, the Ritchie family. It's unclear which pilot was at fault. 

The runway was not closed, and the spill was contained about three hours after the collision, Bales said. Fire crews were on scene for several hours cleaning the spill, and half a dozen police officers patrolled the area to keep people at a safe distance. 

"There were no injuries reported," Bales said. "Visalia fire and police responded within two minutes of the call."

Bales added that she is proud of her staff's quick response. 

Crews used absorbent pads to soak up the fuel, said Visalia Fire Battalion Chief Darrin Hughes. Everyone on the planes had safely evacuated by the time firefighters arrived, he added. 

More information will be released once National Transportation Safety Board completes its report, Bales said. A final report could take months.

Original article ➤ https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com

13 comments:

  1. TBM missing 5 propellor blades.

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  2. I'm sure he will say the KingAir backed into him or gave him a break job.

    Glad there was no fire.

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  3. Based on my experience in glass cockpits, TBM pic allowed himself to get distracted with setting up gps, checklist, etc, while taxing behind King Air. Sounds weird but actually easy to let happen. Especially on long taxi at large airport at a good pace. I’ll bet he’ll never do that again. I was once following a friend in a biplane which required s turns to see ahead. When he stopped at hold line I nearly trimmed his tail! Once! Five blades and tear down very costly.

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  4. Based on my experience it is easy to get distracted in any airplane ... glass or steam.

    If I am single pilot I do the set ups and run the check list with the plane stopped and the parking brake set and guarded.

    Second pilot we can coordinate the efforts while we taxi cautiously.

    YMMV

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  5. a lot of those scratches are gonna buff out on that king air

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  6. I agree with comment regarding glass cockpit. Have seen many new amateur pilots forget to look where they’re going will watching these complex displays. It usually takes a close one before they wake up and concentrate on flying.

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  7. how do you rear end your multi million dollar plane into a even more expensive plane damn near took the wing off how do they get these planes to there respective repair stations

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  8. "how do you rear end your multi million dollar plane into a even more expensive plane ... "


    Based on my experience it is easy to get distracted in any airplane ... glass or steam.

    If I am single pilot I do the set ups and run the check list with the plane stopped and the parking brake set and guarded.

    If you want to be cool and do set ups and run check lists while taxing get a second qualified pilot to ride along and learn to use said second qualified pilot effectively.






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  9. flight path of those 5 propellor blades?

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  10. Whoever is at fault and I suspect the pricey TBM's driver will be uninsurable for the next few years. Ironic it might be a used car salesman who is supposed to know about cars rear ending each other.
    It's a free country but any expensive and sophisticated machine should be required to carry a type rating based on the complexity of their avionics and automation, and require commercial pilot privileges with hundreds of hours in type or at least a CFI's endorsement.
    People with more money than brains can have their expensive toys but I draw the line at them endangering others. That situation might have easily led to a fire and explosion and the King Air's passengers might have been seriously hurt.
    No private pilot shall be allowed to fly anything more than a piston SEL. Basically a sports pilot with up to 4 passengers and IFR and ability to do x-country.

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  11. This is why you never perform other cockpit tasks when you're taxiing. I don't care what the task is or what the airplane is. When the airplane is in motion or on a movement area with other movi g aircraft, keep your hand on the throttle, toes on the brakes, and head on a swivel, OUTSIDE the aircraft. There is absolutely no excuse for this.

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  12. I would never be jealous of someone who has more money than brains and shows carelessness in their handling of an expensive piece of machinery. As the old adage goes a fool and their money are quickly parted.
    What is sad is the human labor in both planes, all made by hand, that will take months to repair. Anyone who values the craftsmanship needed to build those masterpieces will be saddened by the sheer stupid moment it takes to destroy it all. It's like spraying acid on the Mona Lisa.

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  13. Looks like TBM somehow rear ended the King Air and almost created a situation much worse than it was. Amazing there was no fire. TBM pilot most likely taxi ing way too fast and not paying attention with head down texting or sending an email or perhaps he was setting up FMS. I would anticipate FAA and NTSB will check his phone records for timing of any text/emails, as well as drug tested at time of incident. No excuse for this type of incident and I would suspect TBM pilot will be looking for a new occupation once FAA/NTSB, and Insurance finish with him.

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