The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Riverside, California
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket
California Highway Patrol
Accident Number: WPR21LA240
Date and Time: June 22, 2021, 23:55 Local
Registration: N881HP
Aircraft: Cessna T206
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Public aircraft
Analysis
The pilot reported that, while taxiing the airplane from the ramp to the runway in nighttime conditions he noted the location of the two sets of taxiway lights that indicate the location of the ramp entrance to taxiway alpha. The pilot then reached down to configure the radio and when he looked back outside to the left, he saw one row of two blue taxiway lights, however he did not see the other set of taxiway lights to the left of the set he initially saw and believed that what he saw was the first row (north side). He immediately applied left rudder input to turn but the airplane suddenly stopped, as the airplane had exited the taxiway ramp and impacted a drainage culvert. The aft section of the fuselage was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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 pilot's distraction due to adjusting the radio while taxing at night, which resulted in a taxiway excursion and subsequent impact with terrain.
Findings
Personnel issues Monitoring environment - Pilot
Personnel issues Task monitoring/vigilance - Pilot
Environmental issues Dark - Effect on personnel
Factual Information
History of Flight
Taxi-to runway Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) (Defining event)
Pilot Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 51, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 2 None
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 18, 2021
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 2835 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1951 hours (Total, this make and model), 2418 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 12 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
Other flight crew Information
Certificate: Commercial
Age: 45, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: August 23, 2021
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: July 24, 2020
Flight Time: (Estimated) 641 hours (Total, all aircraft), 4 hours (Total, this make and model), 570 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 23 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Cessna
Registration: N881HP
Model/Series: T206H
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2000
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: T20608234
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 3
Date/Type of Last Inspection: June 17, 2021 AAIP
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3617 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 21.9 Hrs
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 15157.6 Hrs
Engine Manufacturer: LYCOMING
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: TIO-540-AJ1A
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 310 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Night
Observation Facility, Elevation: KGXA, 3020 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 24 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 23:58 Local
Direction from Accident Site: 269°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 17000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.94 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / -2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Apple Valley, CA
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Apple Valley, CA
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: APPLE VALLEY APV
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 3061 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used:
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:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 34.570937,-117.19035
