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ERA10CA411

2010-08-09 · Marshfield, Massachusetts, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport GHG

Current FAA registration · N2150F

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-161
Year of manufacture
1978 · 32 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19781128
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A1CE73

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a vehicle while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was his inadequate visual lookout.

Factual narrative

According to the pilot, he noticed during pre-flight planning that there was a NOTAM in effect for taxiway construction at the departure airport. He taxied to the runway for takeoff and approached the area of construction, where he observed vehicles parked off the edge of the taxiway. The pilot stated that he was "scanning the engine instruments and dialing in a frequency" when he felt a "jolt." The pilot shut down the airplane and exited, and saw that the airplane's left wing had contacted a vehicle belonging to one of the construction workers. The left wing sustained substantial damage. Other workers at the site stated that their rule was to park their vehicles behind the taxiway lights, in order to leave adequate room for aircraft on the taxiway. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane, and that he was taxiing on the taxiway centerline when the impact occurred. According to the pilot, he noticed during preflight planning that there was a Notice to Airmen in effect for taxiway construction at the departure airport. He taxied to the runway for takeoff and approached the area of construction, where he observed vehicles parked off the edge of the taxiway. The pilot stated that he was scanning the engine instruments and dialing in a radio frequency when he felt a "jolt." The pilot shut down the airplane and exited, and observed that the airplane's left wing had contacted a vehicle belonging to one of the construction workers. The left wing sustained substantial damage. Other workers at the site stated that their rule was to park their vehicles behind the taxiway lights, in order to leave adequate room for aircraft on the taxiway. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airplane, and that he was taxiing on the taxiway centerline when the impact occurred. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Lack of action-Pilot
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground vehicle-Awareness of condition

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_ERA10CA411.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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