The pilot reported that while taxiing to the active runway in Athens, Tennessee, about 50 yards ahead, he saw what appeared to be a black oval, four to five feet in diameter on the taxiway.
He stated that he believed it was a wet spot or an area of new pavement, and started to steer around it.
As he approached the spot, he glanced off to the left and saw sink holes in the field, then he looked back towards the taxiway and suddenly the Cessna 182 sank into the taxiway.
The airplane came to a stop after the right wheel fell into the sink hole and the fuselage hit the taxiway surface. The hole had opened up to about nine to 10 feet across and seven to eight feet deep.
The fuselage was substantially damaged in the accident.
During a post-accident interview, the airport manager stated that she was unaware of sink holes on any safety areas at the airport, including this taxiway.
After the accident, the airport immediately issued a notice to airmen closing the taxiway.
Probable cause: The failure of the taxiway surface due to a sink hole, which resulted in the right main landing gear sinking into terrain causing substantial damage to the fuselage.
NTSB Identification: GAA15CA173
This July 2015 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.
Perhaps it’s time for a new V speed? How about Vsh?
Geez … first an unknown sinkhole eats a bunch of rare Corvettes in Bowling Green, KY and now another eats a Skylane in Athens, TN. I sure hope there isn’t an unknown black hole headed for the earth !! I think it’s time to avoid this area of the Country.
Did it really take 2 years to determine ” probable cause ” ?
There appears to be another Richard here also. I wonder how much that sink hole will cost the airport? Surely they’ll have to pay for the damage to the aircraft.
The fault here is simple! The pilot had obviously not renewed his clairvoyance license.
Perhaps he was taxiing too slowly to cross the sinkhole. I’m not sure which V speed applies. Some speed slightly above Vr.
what…no pilot error? the NTSB always blames the pilot. lol. he should have known that there was going to be a sink hole opening up. he must not have gotten the correct forecast lol
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY….THIS MAY BE THE FIRST REPORT THAT DIDN’T SAY “PILOT ERR”….
Geologist error…
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to avoid an expanding sinkhole while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to focus on where he was taxiing, allowing his gaze to be momentarily diverted to a separate, non-related sinkhole.