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GAA17CA235

2017-04-14 · Richfield, Utah, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport RIF

Current FAA registration · N481HC

Make / Model
BEECH B200
Seats / Engines
11 seats · 2 engines
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5ED02

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain separation from a fence post during taxi at night.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during taxi on a parking ramp at night he decided to make a 180° left turn to position the airplane before picking up a patient. He added that during the turn, the right wing impacted a fence post. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during taxi on a parking ramp at night, he decided to make a 180° left turn to position the airplane before picking up a patient. He added that, during the turn, the right wing impacted a fence post. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Effect on operation
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Dark-Effect on personnel

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA235.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.