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GAA16CA237

2016-05-12 · Wickenburg, Arizona, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport E25

Current FAA registration · N416PA

Make / Model
PIPER PA-28-181
Year of manufacture
2001 · 15 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-360-A1D (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20010327
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A4EBB0

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to monitor the parked vehicle, which resulted in a ground collision and substantial damage to the left wing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while taxiing in the ramp area after landing, he was focused on an airplane parked to his right and was not monitoring the proximity of a vehicle parked to his left. Subsequently, the left wing struck the parked vehicle. The left wing spar was substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that while taxiing in the ramp area after landing, he was focused on an airplane parked to his right and was not monitoring the proximity of a vehicle parked to his left. Subsequently, the left wing struck the parked vehicle. The left wing spar was substantially damaged. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. 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 - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground vehicle-Awareness of condition - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA16CA237.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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