The pilot reported that upon receiving clearance to taxi from air traffic control, he proceeded to taxi onto what he thought was the centerline of Taxiway Charlie at the airport in Santa Barbara, California, at night.
During the taxi, the Piper PA28 suddenly turned to the right. He stopped the airplane, thinking something on the ground made “the wheel turn” and he looked at the right wing, noting nothing abnormal.
He added that after they were airborne, he saw that part of the right wingtip was separated.
The pilot continued the flight and landed uneventfully at his destination.
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that the right wing was structurally damaged. A portion of the airplane’s right wingtip was located underneath a damaged wing on an unoccupied airplane that was parked adjacent to Taxiway Charlie at the airport in Santa Barbara.
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a parked airplane during taxi operations at night.
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This January 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
No comment. Really.
Nothing makes sense. Hit something hard enough to pivot the plane but don’t find out what it was, then power through the obstruction? Can’t see a whole plane you hit but can see your wing damage in flight at night? Had to be pretty audible also!
Good questions. Checked out the airport on Google Maps. There’s a white painted vehicle-only lane between the ramp and taxiway C. Coming out of the ramp southbound, the first solid line is the north edge of the vehicle-only lane. The centerline of the taxiway is another 52ft further south. If he turned at the first solid line thinking it was the centerline of the taxiway, he would have been 52ft closer to parked aircraft. Ironically, currently on Google Maps, there’s an airplane parked on that ramp with its wingtip only 11 feet from the first solid line (the north border of the vehicle-only lane).
New local pilots are probably familiarized with the unusual layout but I can see a transient pilot getting confused. It’s a very interesting lesson in assessing risk management which is more generally connected to risk in flight, not on the ground. And a reminder (to myself incl) of the importance of colors – a white line is NOT a line associated with a taxiway. Unfortunate.