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GAA19CA196

2019-04-03 · Lakeland, Florida, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport LAL

Current FAA registration · N4821S

Make / Model
PIPER PA-32-260
Year of manufacture
1969 · 50 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-540 SERIES (250 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19691030
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5F293

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fence post during taxi to parking.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that during taxi to parking he was following the ground guides arm and hand signals. The pilot made a right turn to maneuver the airplane between a fence line on the left, and a parked airplane on the right. During the right turn, the airplane's left wing struck the fence post. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, during taxi to parking, he was following the ground guide's arm and hand signals. The pilot turned the airplane right to maneuver it between a fence line on the left and a parked airplane on the right. During the right turn, the airplane's left wing struck a fence post. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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-Fence/fence post-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_GAA19CA196.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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