CHI00LA183

Factual narrative

On June 29, 2000, at 1730 eastern standard time, a Cessna C-150L, N11527, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when the aircraft collided with a building while taxing at the Griffith-Merrillville Airport, Griffith, Indiana. The local, personal, flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot reported no injures. The pilot stated that he was returning to the hanger after an engine run-up for mechanical reasons when he impacted the building. According to the pilot's written statement, he wanted to test his taxi abilities by limiting his usage of the brakes while taxiing. The pilot reported that during the taxi it was necessary to avoid an uneven area of tarmac and while maneuvering around the uneven area the right wingtip impacted a building. The pilot stated, "...tryed [tried] to bring back to left with heavy left brake result in right wing tip striking corner of hanger." The pilot reported that he wanted to test his taxi abilities by limiting his usage of the brakes while taxiing. The pilot reported that during the taxi it was necessary to avoid an uneven area of tarmac and while maneuvering around the uneven area the right wingtip impacted a building. The pilot stated, "...tryed [tried] to bring back to left with heavy left brake result in right wing tip striking corner of hanger." Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12