Wendell H Ford Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hazard, Kentucky 41367
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 15:07 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that after landing he was taxiing the airplane to the parking ramp. With the self-service pumps clearly visible on the right side of the airplane, he taxied past them and reached over to open the cabin door. He sneezed twice and the airplane drifted right. The right wing impacted the fuel pump, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. Two witnesses who observed the accident reported that the airplane was taxiing fast. Review of security camera footage revealed that there were no obstructions in the immediate vicinity of the fuel pump. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a fuel pump while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s diverted attention.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/15/2010
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1507
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Hazard
Event State KENTUCKY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 41367
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 372309N
Event Location Longitude 0831525W
Event Location Airport Wendell H Ford Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID K20
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1253
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 354
Weather Observation Facility ID JKL
Elevation of weather observation facility 1381
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.12
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27779
NTSB Notification Source Louisville FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 23 2010 8:05AM
User who most recently changed record coxp
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1156U
NTSB Number ERA10CA491
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MOONEY
Aircraft Model M20J
Aircraft Series Identifier NO SERIES
Aircraft Serial Number 24-1253
Certified Max Gross Weight 2740
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Dec 23 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3500
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Shamu Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Lexington
Aircraft Owner State KY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 40513
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Charles K Buckley
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Lexington
Operator State KY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 40513
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 27K
Departure City Georgetown
Departure State KY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code K20
Destination City Hazard
Destination State KY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 26 2010 11:01AM
User who most recently changed record schl
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --