Salinas Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Salinas, California 93906
Tuesady, April 4, 1989 15:57 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, THE PILOT'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED TO SET THE TRANSPONDER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE TAXIWAY & COLLIDED WITH A PARKED UNOCCUPIED AIRPLANE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER TAXIWAY ALIGNMENT, WHEN HE DIVERTED HIS ATTENTION, WHILE TAXIING. THE LOCATION OF THE PARKED AIRCRAFT WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/4/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1557
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SALINAS
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 93906
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SALINAS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SNS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 295
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Apr 4 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1700
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 38837
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:36PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N59973
NTSB Number LAX89LA147
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-31-350
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-31-350
Aircraft Serial Number 31-7552079
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Mar 17 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 39
Airframe Hours 5256
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AMERIFLIGHT INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4700 EMPIRE AVE.,
Aircraft Owner City BURBANK
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 91505
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name AMERIFLIGHT
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4700 EMPIRE AVE
Operator City BURBANK
Operator State CA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 91505
Operator Code AMF
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 307
Destination City HOLLISTER
Destination State CA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --