Sunday, October 11, 2020

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

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: 

Location: Visalia, California 
Accident Number: WPR20CA046
Date & Time: December 17, 2019, 11:16 Local 
Registration: N160RW (A1); N961GG (A2)
Aircraft: Beech 350 (A1); Socata TBM 700 (A2) 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial (A1); Minor (A2)
Defining Event: Ground collision 
Injuries: 1 None (A1); 2 None (A2)
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal (A1); Part 91: General aviation - Personal (A2)

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

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

3 comments:

  1. Non-tower flying 101 just like driving 101: don't assume the other pilot is going to yield right of way to you just as you don't assume a driver on the ground is going to stop at a stop sign or at a light that turns red. About 30 years ago I had to brake hard when pulling out of a ramp in a 172 early in my PPL student solo time and yield to a doctor in a Baron who felt he was more important than I was and cut me off...even though I had the right-of-way. It was a non-controlled airport but I voiced my concern to the person at the FBO management monitoring CTAF/UNICOM. I later found out that doctor had helped bring in investors to airport expansion, so my concerns about his arrogant and dangerous ground flying of course fell on deaf ears. I've always wondered if that jerk was one of those ubiquitous doctors who overestimates his abilities and dies in a crash.

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  2. That's a new one. "I was too tall" or "The airplane was designed for short pilots"

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    Replies
    1. It is a new one, but the excuse making is not new: don't blame yourself, blame their aircraft manufacturer's design! Families have gotten away suing for decades on this mentality. Fortunately this pilot's family still gets to see him come home from his failure as a pilot.

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