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ERA13CA278

2013-06-03 · West Palm Beach, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport FD38

Current FAA registration · N21EP

Make / Model
PIPER PA46-500TP
Year of manufacture
2012 · 1 years old at event
Engine
P&W CANADA PT6A-42A (850 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20120921
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A1B79B

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s diversion of attention while taxiing the airplane, which resulted in his failure to maintain directional control and collision with a ditch.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was taxiing to the runway while adjusting the flight instruments for takeoff when the airplane drifted left of the taxiway centerline and struck a culvert. After performing a visual inspection of the airframe and determining that all systems functioned normally, the pilot elected to continue to the runway and complete the flight as planned. The following day, an inspection of the airplane performed by a mechanic revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated that he should not have started taxiing the airplane or attempted to “multi-task” while taxiing. The pilot stated that he was taxiing to the runway while adjusting the flight instruments for takeoff when the airplane drifted left of the taxiway centerline and struck a culvert. After performing a visual inspection of the airframe and determining that all systems functioned normally, the pilot elected to continue to the runway and complete the flight as planned. The following day, an inspection of the airplane performed by a mechanic revealed substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. He further stated that he should not have started taxiing the airplane or attempted to “multi-task” while taxiing. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Workload management-(general)-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-(general)-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2013_ERA13CA278.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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