PIPER PA-44-180
Gaithersburg, MD — August 26, 2011
Event Information
| Date | August 26, 2011 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA11CA486 |
| Event ID | 20110909X05142 |
| Location | Gaithersburg, MD |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 39.16833, -77.16583 |
| Airport | Montgomery County |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | PIPER |
| Model | PA-44-180 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 2 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's decision to continue taxiing with restricted windshield visibility.
Full Narrative
The pilot reported that he was taxiing to the active runway for takeoff, when the windshield started to fog and he missed the left turn to the runway. The airplane exited the taxiway onto a grassy area, and the pilot then turned left; however, the airplane began to slide down a hill. The airplane's right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted the ground, which resulted in damage to the right wing spar. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. He reported 1,400 hours of total flight experience, which included 96 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.