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WPR24LA283

2024-08-09 · Fallbrook, California, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport L18

Current FAA registration · N56631

Make / Model
PIPER PA-32-300
Year of manufacture
1973 · 51 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING TI0-540 SER (310 hp)
Seats / Engines
6 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19730920
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A7400F

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle during taxi operations.

Factual narrative

The pilot stated that while taxiing, the path leading to the taxiway had a series of abrupt turns. He misjudged one of the turns and struck a 10-inch rectangular steel post with the left main gear. The airplane momentarily lifted and then dropped onto the left wing. He immediately stopped the airplane and shut down the engine. During the accident sequence, the airplane sustained spar damage to the left wing. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact 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.

  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Pole-Effect on operation

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_WPR24LA283.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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