Summary
On January 01, 2015, a Piper PA-46-350P (N657MC) was involved in an incident near Apalachicola, FL. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in the airplane striking a pole.
After landing, the pilot taxied to the fixed base operator to park. As he approached the parking ramp, a lineman stood in front of a tie-down spot and raised both hands in the air signaling to the pilot where to park. The spot was next to a parked jet. The pilot said that while taxing to the parking spot he was concentrating on staying clear of the jet and did not see a light pole located at the edge of the ramp. The right wing struck the pole resulting in structural damage to the wing.
This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA15CA093. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N657MC.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in the airplane striking a pole.
Aircraft Information
Analysis
After landing, the pilot taxied to the fixed base operator to park. As he approached the parking ramp, a lineman stood in front of a tie-down spot and raised both hands in the air signaling to the pilot where to park. The spot was next to a parked jet. The pilot said that while taxing to the parking spot he was concentrating on staying clear of the jet and did not see a light pole located at the edge of the ramp. The right wing struck the pole resulting in structural damage to the wing.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA15CA093