Photo of the parked aircraft.
Google Earth Image of Collision Area.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Van Nuys, California
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Accident Number: WPR20CA087
Date & Time: 01/11/2020, 2010 PST
Registration: N8408E
Aircraft: Piper PA28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Ground collision
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
The pilot reported that upon receiving clearance to taxi from air traffic control, he proceeded to taxi onto what he thought was the centerline of taxiway Charlie in nighttime conditions. During the taxi, the airplane suddenly turned to the right. The pilot stated he stopped the airplane and thought something on the ground made "the wheel turn" and he looked at the right wing, noting nothing abnormal. He added that after they were airborne, he saw that part of the right wingtip was separated. The pilot continued the flight and landed uneventfully at his destination.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was structurally damaged. A portion of the accident airplanes right wingtip was located underneath a damaged wing on an unoccupied airplane that was parked adjacent to taxiway Charlie at the departure airport.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 28, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present:Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/17/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/19/2019
Flight Time: 104.3 hours (Total, all aircraft), 28 hours (Total, this make and model), 43.3 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 36.9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 20.7 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Pilot-Rated Passenger Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 27, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s):None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/20/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 213.1 hours (Total, all aircraft), 93.7 hours (Total, this make and model), 108.2 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 70.9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 26.6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N8408E
Model/Series: PA28 161
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1981
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate:Normal
Serial Number: 28-8116259
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/30/2019, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2440 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 32 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 18991 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320-D2A
Registered Owner: Candace A Larned Enterprises Inc
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSBA, 20 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0553 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 225°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 8°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Santa Barbara, CA (SBA)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Long Beach, CA (LBG)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: PST
Type of Airspace: Class C
Airport Information
Airport: SANTA BARBARA MUNI (SBA)
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 13 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 34.432778, -119.834722 (est)
Accident Number: WPR20CA087
Date & Time: 01/11/2020, 2010 PST
Registration: N8408E
Aircraft: Piper PA28
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Ground collision
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
The pilot reported that upon receiving clearance to taxi from air traffic control, he proceeded to taxi onto what he thought was the centerline of taxiway Charlie in nighttime conditions. During the taxi, the airplane suddenly turned to the right. The pilot stated he stopped the airplane and thought something on the ground made "the wheel turn" and he looked at the right wing, noting nothing abnormal. He added that after they were airborne, he saw that part of the right wingtip was separated. The pilot continued the flight and landed uneventfully at his destination.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was structurally damaged. A portion of the accident airplanes right wingtip was located underneath a damaged wing on an unoccupied airplane that was parked adjacent to taxiway Charlie at the departure airport.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 28, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present:Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/17/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/19/2019
Flight Time: 104.3 hours (Total, all aircraft), 28 hours (Total, this make and model), 43.3 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 36.9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 20.7 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Pilot-Rated Passenger Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 27, Female
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s):None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 03/20/2018
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 213.1 hours (Total, all aircraft), 93.7 hours (Total, this make and model), 108.2 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 70.9 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 26.6 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N8408E
Model/Series: PA28 161
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1981
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate:Normal
Serial Number: 28-8116259
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 12/30/2019, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2440 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 32 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 18991 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C91 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-320-D2A
Registered Owner: Candace A Larned Enterprises Inc
Rated Power: 160 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSBA, 20 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0553 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 225°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 8°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Santa Barbara, CA (SBA)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Long Beach, CA (LBG)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: PST
Type of Airspace: Class C
Airport Information
Airport: SANTA BARBARA MUNI (SBA)
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 13 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 34.432778, -119.834722 (est)