As the pilot was taxiing the T-211 Thorpedo to takeoff on Runway 10 from the airport in Mountain Home, Idaho, he encountered a truck parked on the taxiway.
He made a 180° left turn, taxied back down the taxiway, then made a second 180° left turn in an attempt to reverse direction to go around the truck.
However, during the turn the airplane went off the right side of the taxiway and into some soft dirt, which required the pilot to increase power to get out of the dirt and back upon the runway.
The pilot stated that he thought he had added too much power, and as a result, when the airplane regained the taxiway surface it proceeded across the taxiway and hit the truck with its right wing, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance with a parked truck while taxiing for takeoff.
NTSB Identification: WPR15CA017
This October 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Would we blame the thunderstorm if a pilot decided to taxi during a 50 kt gust front with 1/2″ hail? Nope. We’d all agree the pilot should never left the safety of their hangar. i agree the pickup’s driver made apoor decision. A poor decision by the driver does not remove responsbility ffrom the pilot for his really bad decision. JimH sugjested two alternatives the pilot could have used to eliminate the risk of losing contol of his aircraft. Any parent who has witnessed a two yearold in tantrum mode should recognize the underlying issue in this accident. “Oh! The injustice!” And off he went.
I fully agree that is surely not the pilots fault
Right on Jim H.
Seems as the NTSB placed the blame on the wrong party
Marvin
Hey..NTSB..!! Why the heck was a vehicle on the taxiway blocking it ?
That is the condition that caused a pilot to have to leave the taxiway to get around it.
With little traffic at this airport, I’d use another taxiway to the runway and then back taxi to the departure end.
Or, call up the airport manger and tell them to get the truck off the taxiway !.
Lots of stupid was on display that day haha! Mountain Home is not a busy airport at ALL…calling the airport manager (whoever he is!) would probably be the right answer, but certainly not the fast answer. (I live in the area, I know this airport fairly well.) Sounds like the pilot was in too big a hurry to get in the air, but then, he probably thought he had plenty of room to go around. Ya know though, It all boils down to Pilot Error…my dad (a TWA captain from the 40’s until the 80’s who did consulting work for the NTSB on the side) used to tell me that it is ALWAYS Pilot Error…The Pilot made the Error of going flying that day.