Event GAA20CA094

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that, while the student pilot was landing, a car did not stop at the hold short line and drove onto the runway. The car struck the left wing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest on the runway. The driver of the vehicle reported that, he stopped at the entrance of the runway and checked left and right to make sure it was clear. While crossing the runway he heard glass shatter and a heavy impact. At no time did he see the airplane, until after the collision. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage and empennage. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The flight instructor reported that, while the student pilot was landing, a car drove onto the runway and struck the left wing. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The vehicle's driver reported that he stopped at the entrance of the runway and looked left and right to make sure it was clear. While crossing the runway, he heard glass shatter and felt a heavy impact. He did not see the airplane until after the collision. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The instructor 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

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground vehicle-Ability to respond/compensate - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Ground vehicle-Effect on operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Other/unknown - C