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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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September 16, 2017 · Cessna 208B · N786WW

Sedona, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 16, 2017
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (9 uninjured)
Location
Sedona, AZ
Aircraft
Cessna 208B (2004)
Tail Number
N786WW
Operator
Westwind Aviation
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR17LA207

The commercial pilot reported that, while taxiing after landing, he was instructed by the ground controller to follow a truck to transient parking. A fly-in car show event was taking place at the time, and several areas on the ramp were occupied by the show. With a wing walker on the right wing, he followed the truck and moved left of the taxiway centerline to avoid getting too close to the airplanes to the right that overhung into the taxiway. After the airplane was clear of the airplanes to the right, the pilot advanced the throttle and the left wing impacted a light pole, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Pole-Contributed to outcome

Full Narrative

On September 16, 2017, about 1430 mountain standard time, a Cessna 208B airplane, N786WW, collided with a light pole while taxiing after landing at the Sedona Airport (SEZ), Sedona, Arizona. The pilot and eight passengers were not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane was registered to and operated by West Wind Aviation, Inc., as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 on-demand air taxi flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company visual flight rules flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The flight departed Grand Canyon West Airport, Peach Springs, Arizona at 1322.According to the pilot, after an uneventful landing on runway 3, he taxied the airplane from taxiway A2 to taxiway A and waited for further instructions from ground control. A Fly-in & Car Show event was taking place at the time, and several areas on the ramp were occupied by the show. The pilot was then instructed by ground control to follow a truck on A6 taxiway to transient parking. The transient parking was moved to the east side of the ramp and was only accessible by taxiway A6 during the event. The pilot stated that as he followed the truck, he noticed several airplanes that were parked to the right side and their wings overhung into the taxiway near to the centerline. As he approached the airplanes he steered left of centerline to maintain clearance to his right. He had one ground personnel to the right side clearing the airplane's right wing and no one on the left side to clear the left wing. The pilot advanced the throttle after he was clear of the airplanes to his right and subsequently impacted a light pole with the left wing. The light pole was positioned about 65 ft from the centerline of taxiway A6. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicated that the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine and multiengine land ratings. The pilot reported that he had about 915 hours total flight experience, including about 102 hours in the accident airplane make and model.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 MST
Nearest AirportSEDONA (0nm WNW)
Runway03
Runway Length5132 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledCvfr
Flight Plan ActivatedYes
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 208B
Tail NumberN786WW
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorWestwind Aviation
Operating RulePart 135
Engines2
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A SER · Turboprop · 0 | P&W · PT6A SER · Turboprop · 0
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (9 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured9
Total9
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point32 C
Altimeter30.04 inHg
Observation Time21:15
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data