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Atlas / NTSB / WPR10CA367

NTSB CAROL · Event

Event WPR10CA367

2010-07-23 Ephrata, Washington, United States Airport · EPH None 1 aircraft Status: Completed

Registry · N6139M

FAA Aircraft Registry record.

Make / Model

CESSNA 152

Year of manufacture

1980 · 30 years old at event

Engine

LYCOMING 0-235 SERIES (115 hp)

Seats / Engines

2 seats · 1 engine

Last airworthiness date

19800919

ADS-B equipped

Yes — Mode-S A7FD82

Registrant of record

KELLY DAVID M

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fire hydrant while taxiing to the runway.

Factual narrative

In a written statement, the certificated flight instructor (CFI) reported that he was taxiing the airplane to the active runway. As he came around a hangar, he noted the sun was extremely bright, as it was cresting on the horizon. The CFI taxied the airplane into a fire hydrant; the right horizontal stabilizer was damaged as a result of the impact. The CFI reported that there were no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. The certificated flight instructor (CFI) reported that he was taxiing the airplane to the active runway. As he came around a hangar he noted that the sun was extremely bright, as it was just on the horizon. The CFI then taxied the airplane into a fire hydrant, resulting in damage to the right horizontal stabilizer. The CFI reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. 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).

  • Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Light condition-Glare-Effect on personnel
  • C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Instructor/check pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-(general)-Response/compensation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_WPR10CA367.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.