Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from another parked airplane while taxiing. Contributing factors were the night light conditions, and the pilot's fatigue from a long day.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On October 23, 2001, at approximately 2130 mountain daylight time, a Pilatus PC-12, N269AF, was substantially damaged when it collided with a parked airplane while taxiing on the ramp at Natrona County International Airport, Casper, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. M&N Equipment LLC was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local night flight that was terminating at the time of the accident.
The pilot said that he was taxiing to his hangar on a freshly resurfaced black ramp with no painted taxi lines. He said it was night, and the parking ramp was very dark. The airplane's left wing struck a parked airplane, bending three of the accident airplane's ribs. The pilot said he had been awake since approximately 0430 that morning.
Two National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report forms (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) were sent to the pilot, and the Investigator-in-Charge talked with the pilot twice on the telephone. The pilot chose not to respond in writing.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# DEN02LA006