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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 28, 2018 · Pilatus PC12 45 · N552TC

Mesa, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 28, 2018
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (7 uninjured)
Location
Mesa, AZ
Aircraft
Pilatus PC12 45 (2002)
Tail Number
N552TC
Operator
Daylight Nightlight Ez Flight
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
GAA19CA079

The pilot of the Pilatus reported that, after the local air traffic controller gave him an instrument flight rules clearance, he taxied the airplane from the ramp to the taxiway. While turning onto the taxiway, the controller instructed him to give way to an airplane on the same taxiway. He acknowledged the instruction; stopped the airplane; looked left and saw a Cessna, which had already passed him. He then looked right and did not see any other airplanes on the taxiway and continued to taxi. Shortly after, he realized that the airplane's propeller had struck something, so he immediately shut down the engine, deplaned, and realized that he had struck another Cessna that he had not seen. The flight instructor in the Cessna reported that, while the student pilot was taxiing back to the ramp, they were instructed by the local air traffic controller to follow company traffic while passing another airplane to their left, "holding" short of the same taxiway. He then looked left outside of the window and saw a spinning propeller moving closer toward the airplane. He immediately grabbed the controls and hammered the right pedal, but the other airplane's propeller struck their airplane's left wing. The Pilatus sustained damage to the propeller. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and the flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation. A video provided by the airport authority showed that the Pilatus taxied left onto the taxiway from the ramp without stopping and that there was another airplane farther down the taxiway.

NTSB Probable Cause

The other pilot's failure to follow the air traffic controller’s instructions and his subsequent failure to maintain adequate lookout to see and avoid the other airplane on the taxiway.

Full Narrative

The pilot of the Pilatus reported that after he received his IFR clearance from the local air traffic controller, he taxied from the ramp to the taxiway. While turning onto the taxiway, he was further instructed by the controller to give way to an airplane on the same taxiway. He acknowledged the instruction, "stopped" the airplane, looked left and saw a Cessna, which already passed him, so he looked right, did not see any other airplanes on the taxiway and continued to taxi. Shortly after, he realized that the propellers struck something, so he immediately shut down the airplane, deplaned, and realized that he struck another Cessna he did not see. The flight instructor in the Cessna reported that, while the student pilot was taxiing back to the ramp, they were instructed by the local air traffic controller to follow company traffic while passing another airplane, to their left, "holding" short of the same taxiway. He then looked left outside of his window and saw a spinning propeller moving closer towards the airplane. He immediately grabbed the controls and hammered the right pedal, but the propeller of the other airplane struck their airplane's left wing. The Pilatus sustained damage to the propellers. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot and the flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation. A video provided by the airport authority showed that the Pilatus taxied left on to the taxiway from the ramp without stopping. It also showed that there was another airplane, further down the taxiway.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time08:50 MST
Nearest AirportPhoenix-Mesa Gateway (0nm SW)
Runway12R
Runway Length10401 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Flight Plan ActivatedUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPilatus PC12 45
Tail NumberN552TC
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorDaylight Nightlight Ez Flight
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt & Whitney Canada · PT6A-67B · Turboprop · 1200 | Lycoming · IO360-L2A · Reciprocating · 180
Seats8

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (7 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured7
Total7
Crew 1Age 37 · Second Class · None
Crew 2Age 28 · First Class · None
Crew 3Age 26 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 5 kt
Visibility45 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52 / 30 C
Altimeter29.98 inHg
Observation Time15:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data