ERA11LA100

Factual narrative

On December 13, 2010, at 1230 atlantic standard time, a Cessna 172S, N1348L, collided with a baggage cart while taxiing at the Cyril E. King Airport (STT), Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was registered to Flight World Inc., and operated by Isla Grande Flying School and Service Corporation under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which departed Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (TUPJ), British Virgin Islands, about 1200. The pilot stated that he had flown three legs to deliver cargo to different islands. Prior to departing from TUPJ, he received a phone call from the chief pilot requesting that he fly to STT. The chief pilot stated that he had filed an international flight plan for the pilot, and customs was awaiting his arrival at STT. After landing at STT, while taxiing to the foreign arrivals customs area, he became fixated on staying clear of a jet on the ramp which had its engines running. He did not notice a white baggage cart which was parked on the ramp, and the airplane's left wing contacted the baggage cart, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot was told that he had to reposition the airplane. While taxiing to an other area, he became fixated on staying clear of a jet on the ramp which had its engines running. He did not notice a white baggage cart that was parked on the ramp, and the airplane's left wing contacted the baggage cart, resulting in substantial damage. 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