Pilot Debrief

PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA 28 near Tucson, AZ — 2018-04-08

Final reportGAA18CA208
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Date
2018-04-08
Location
Tucson, AZ, USA
Airport
RYN
Aircraft
PIPER AIRCRAFT INC PA 28
Registration
N4400W
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The student pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a stationary pole while parking.

NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that, while taxiing to park, he aligned the airplane with the parking spot, added power to make the turn, and then heard a "boom." He shut the engine down and examined the airplane and found that the left wing had hit a pole. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left-wing rear spar. The flight safety officer for the operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The safety officer further reported that the company policy was to shut down the airplane on the yellow taxiway centerline before pushing the airplane back into the parking spot. He added that, after interviewing other flight crews, he learned that flight instructors had been demonstrating incorrect parking methods to students, including the student who taxied into the pole.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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