N61384

Substantial
None

PIPER PA-31-350S/N: 31-7552102

Accident Details

Date
Sunday, April 4, 2010
NTSB Number
WPR10LA189
Location
Honolulu, HI
Event ID
20100405X33651
Coordinates
21.318611, -157.922225
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a parked airplane during taxi due to his inadequate visual lookout.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N61384
Make
PIPER
Serial Number
31-7552102
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1975
Model / ICAO
PA-31-350PA31
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Multi Engine
No. of Engines
2

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
SALE REPORTED
Address
1259 MIDWAY RD BLDG 104 STE 1
Status
Deregistered
City
KAPOLEI
State / Zip Code
HI 96707
Country
United States

Analysis

On April 04, 2010, about 1015 Hawaiian standard time, a Piper PA-31-350, N61384, taxied into a parked airplane at the Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii. Pacific Air Charters was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The cross-country flight was taxiing to the departure runway for a planned destination of Lihue, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he was taxiing to runway 04R when his airplane collided with an occupied, parked Cessna airplane.

A witness, who was additionally a pilot, reported to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he observed the Piper taxi into a parked Cessna. The pilot exited the airplane and was visibly shaken. He asked the pilot what happened and the pilot responded by saying that he was just not "paying attention and was occupied with adjusting radios and instruments."

The Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Honolulu Flight Standards District Office who responded to the accident site stated that the airplane left two skid marks, which appeared to be a result of hard braking. The right skid mark measured 118 inches and the left was 72 inches.

A routine aviation weather report (METAR) for the Honolulu International Airport was issued at 0953. It stated: winds from 060 degrees at 13 knots, with a note that peak wind at 0940 was 050 degrees at 29 knots.

In a written statement provided by the Chief Pilot for the operator, he stated that the pilot was taxiing from refueling to a hangar area. During taxi, the airplane encountered a gust of wind channeling between hangars and the pilot lost directional control. The airplane veered left into a parked airplane. He noted that the taxiway surface was wet from a light rain.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR10LA189