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WPR20CA046

2019-12-17 · Visalia, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport KVIS

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The single-engine pilot’s failure to yield to traffic established on the taxiway, which resulted in a ground collision.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the multi-engine Beechcraft reported that he was taxiing on taxiway D, for runway 12, when a single-engine Socata TBM airplane entered taxiway D from his right side. The propeller of the Socata TBM contacted the leading edge of the Beechcraft's right wing, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. The pilot of the Socata TBM reported that he was taxiing from the hangar to runway 12, via diagonal taxiway A. After passing the last hangar, he did not see any traffic on taxiway D. As he began to merge onto taxiway D, he started to make a radio announcement, when the right wing of the Beechcraft contacted the Socata TBM's propeller from the left side, resulting in minor damage to the airplane. Neither pilot reported any preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that he was taxiing from the hangar to runway 12 via taxiway A. As he turned right onto taxiway D, his airplane impacted a multiengine airplane established on the taxiway, which he had not seen. The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that he was taxiing on taxiway D for runway 12 when the single-engine airplane entered taxiway D and impacted the right side of his airplane. According to the airport manager, there is a sign on taxiway A stating, "Stop and Hold." The multiengine airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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 other aircraft-Pilot of other aircraft - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Aircraft-Effect on operation - C
  • C Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring other aircraft-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Aircraft-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2019_WPR20CA046.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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