Summary
On November 22, 2016, a Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 (N3242) was involved in an incident near San Diego, CA. All 5 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 failure to see and avoid the airplane stopped ahead of him during taxi.
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he was cleared to taxi to the departure runway. He added that while taxiing he was doing S-turns to see over the nose of his airplane, and "must have missed a call to the aircraft [airplane] ahead of him," which had been instructed to hold short of the upcoming taxiway. His airplane impacted the empennage of the stopped airplane that was holding short.
His airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and the stopped airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage.
Both pilots reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their airplane's that would have precluded normal operation.
This incident is documented in NTSB report GAA17CA077. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N3242.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot’s failure to see and avoid the airplane stopped ahead of him during taxi.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that he was cleared to taxi to the departure runway. He added that while taxiing he was doing S-turns to see over the nose of his airplane, and "must have missed a call to the aircraft [airplane] ahead of him," which had been instructed to hold short of the upcoming taxiway. His airplane impacted the empennage of the stopped airplane that was holding short.
His airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, and the stopped airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage.
Both pilots reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their airplane's that would have precluded normal operation.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# GAA17CA077