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ERA10CA165

2010-03-05 · Miami, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport TMB

Current FAA registration · N34VF

Make / Model
CESSNA P210N
Year of manufacture
1979 · 31 years old at event
Engine
CONT MOTOR TSIO-520 SER (300 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19790627
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A3BCD6

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to see and avoid an unlit and unmarked helicopter dolly while taxiing at night.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, following his landing he taxied toward a fixed based operator during night, visual meteorological conditions. As he entered a general aviation parking ramp, the right main landing gear struck an unlit and unmarked helicopter dolly. The right landing gear collapsed, the right wing deformed during the collision with pavement, and a fuel leak resulted. The pilot reported that he did not see the dolly prior to the collision, and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. The pilot and the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident reported that the helicopter dolly was unlit and unmarked. After landing, the pilot taxied toward a fixed based operator facility during night visual meteorological conditions. As he entered a general aviation parking ramp, the right main landing gear struck an unlit and unmarked helicopter dolly. The right landing gear collapsed, the right wing deformed during the contact with pavement, and a fuel leak resulted. The pilot reported that he did not see the dolly prior to the collision, and that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane. The pilot and the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who responded to the accident reported that the helicopter dolly was unlit and unmarked. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Operating environment-Airport facilities/design-Ground support/equipment-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_ERA10CA165.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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