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Aviation Investigation Final Report
Location:
Casper, Wyoming
Accident Number:
DEN02LA006
Date & Time:
October 23, 2001, 21:30 Local
Registration:
N269AF
Aircraft:
Pilatus PC-12
Aircraft Damage:
Substantial
Defining Event:
Injuries:
1 None
Flight Conducted Under:
Part 91: General aviation - Positioning
Analysis
The pilot said that he was taxiing to his hangar on a freshly resurfaced black ramp with no
painted taxi lines. He said it was night, and the parking ramp was very dark. The airplane's left
wing struck a parked airplane, bending three of the accident airplane's ribs. The pilot said, in a
telephone conversation, that he had been awake since approximately 0430 that morning.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from another parked airplane while taxiing.
Contributing factors were the night light conditions, and the pilot's fatigue from a long day.
Findings
Occurrence #1: ON GROUND/WATER COLLISION WITH OBJECT
Phase of Operation: TAXI
Findings
1. (C) CLEARANCE - NOT MAINTAINED - PILOT IN COMMAND
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2. (F) FATIGUE - PILOT IN COMMAND
3. (F) LIGHT CONDITION - NIGHT
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Factual Information
On October 23, 2001, at approximately 2130 mountain daylight time, a Pilatus PC-12, N269AF,
was substantially damaged when it collided with a parked airplane while taxiing on the ramp at
Natrona County International Airport, Casper, Wyoming. The commercial pilot, the sole
occupant in the airplane, was not injured. M&N Equipment LLC was operating the airplane
under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local night
flight that was terminating at the time of the accident.
The pilot said that he was taxiing to his hangar on a freshly resurfaced black ramp with no
painted taxi lines. He said it was night, and the parking ramp was very dark. The airplane's left
wing struck a parked airplane, bending three of the accident airplane's ribs. The pilot said he
had been awake since approximately 0430 that morning.
Two National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report forms
(NTSB Form 6120.1/2) were sent to the pilot, and the Investigator-in-Charge talked with the
pilot twice on the telephone. The pilot chose not to respond in writing.
Pilot Information
Certificate:
Airline transport; Commercial;
Flight engineer; Flight instructor
Age:
Airplane Rating(s):
Single-engine land; Single-engine
sea; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied:
Other Aircraft Rating(s):
None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s):
Airplane
Second Pilot Present:
Instructor Rating(s):
Airplane single-engine; Instrument
airplane
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification:
Class 2 Valid Medical--w/
waivers/lim
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot:
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:
13700 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Page 4 of 6 DEN02LA006
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make:
Pilatus
Registration:
N269AF
Model/Series:
PC-12
Aircraft Category:
Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate:
Normal
Serial Number:
297
Landing Gear Type:
Retractable - Tricycle
Seats:
Date/Type of Last
Inspection:
Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:
1 Turbo prop
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer:
Pratt & Whitney Canada
ELT:
Engine Model/Series:
PT6A-67B
Registered Owner:
M&N Equipment LLC.
Rated Power:
1200 Horsepower
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s)
Held:
None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site:
Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light:
Night
Observation Facility, Elevation:
CPR,5348 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
0 Nautical Miles
Observation Time:
21:53 Local
Direction from Accident Site:
0°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Clear
Visibility
10 miles
Lowest Ceiling:
None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts:
23 knots / 28 knots
Turbulence Type
Forecast/Actual:
/
Wind Direction:
280°
Turbulence Severity
Forecast/Actual:
/
Altimeter Setting:
29.71 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point:
2°C / -11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration:
No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point:
Casper, WY (CPR )
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
None
Destination:
Type of Clearance:
Unknown
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace:
Unknown
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Airport Information
Airport:
Natrona County Intl Arpt CPR
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation:
5348 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition:
Unknown
Runway Used:
IFR Approach:
Unknown
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing:
Unknown
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries:
1 None
Aircraft Damage:
Substantial
Passenger
Injuries:
Aircraft Fire:
None
Ground Injuries:
N/A
Aircraft Explosion:
None
Total Injuries:
1 None
Latitude,
Longitude:
42.900276,-106.458053
Page 6 of 6 DEN02LA006
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC):
Struhsaker, James
Additional Participating
Persons:
Owen R Jones; Federal Aviation Administration; Denver, CO
Original Publish Date:
April 15, 2003
Last Revision Date:
Investigation Class:
Class
Note:
Investigation Docket:
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53719
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged by Congress with
investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant events in other modes of transportation—
railroad, transit, highway, marine, pipeline, and commercial space. We determine the probable causes of the accidents
and events we investigate, and issue safety recommendations aimed at preventing future occurrences. In addition, we
conduct transportation safety research studies and offer information and other assistance to family members and
survivors for each accident or event we investigate. We also serve as the appellate authority for enforcement actions
involving aviation and mariner certificates issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and US Coast Guard, and
we adjudicate appeals of civil penalty actions taken by the FAA.
The NTSB does not assign fault or blame for an accident or incident; rather, as specified by NTSB regulation,
“accident/incident investigations are fact-finding proceedings with no formal issues and no adverse parties … and are
not conducted for the purpose of determining the rights or liabilities of any person” (Title 49 Code of Federal Regulations
section 831.4). Assignment of fault or legal liability is not relevant to the NTSB’s statutory mission to improve
transportation safety by investigating accidents and incidents and issuing safety recommendations. In addition,
statutory language prohibits the admission into evidence or use of any part of an NTSB report related to an accident in a
civil action for damages resulting from a matter mentioned in the report (Title 49 United States Code section 1154(b)). A
factual report that may be admissible under 49 United States Code section 1154(b) is available here.