Corporate Air C208 N926FE Collides with C172 N274MM in Honolulu after Distraction
On 31 October 2019 Cessna 208B N926FE, owned by Federal Express (FedEx) and operated under Part 135 by Corporate Air, collided with private Cessna 172 N274MM on the ground at Daniel K Inouye International Airport (HNL) Honolulu, Hawaii. The Cessna 208 sustained minor damage and the Cessna 172 was substantially damages. The occupants were uninjured.
The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) explain in their safety investigation report (published on 5 May 2021) that:
The pilot of N926FE [aged 68, who had 3500 flight hours, 940 on type] reported that, during taxi to the runway for departure, his airplane was number two on taxiway “C” Charlie holding for runway 26R. He positioned approximately 50 feet behind N274MM (the number one holding airplane for departure), the condition lever was set at low idle and the power lever was set all the way aft at idle.
He reported he set the parking brake…
…before diverting his attention from outside of the airplane to inside of the cockpit. While his attention was inside of the airplane, he was startled by a noise and vibration. He looked up and realized his airplane had taxied into N274MM.
He then shut his airplane down, radioed the control tower to report the collision, and all occupants exited their airplanes.
N274MM sustained substantial damage to the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator, the vertical stabilizer and rudder, and left flap.
Damage to C172 N274MM after Collision by C208 N926FE at Honolulu, Hawaii (Credit: Airport Manager via NTSB)
A postaccident examination of N926FE by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane braking system that would have precluded normal operation.
NTSB Analysis
Given the absence of any mechanical issues with the Cessna 208B’s brake system, it is likely the pilot inadvertently failed to set the parking brake before diverting his attention inside the airplane, and the airplane subsequently collided with the airplane ahead.
The NTSB determined the Probable Cause to be:
The pilot of the Cessna’s [sic] failure to set the parking brake before diverting his attention inside the airplane, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the airplane ahead of it on the taxiway.
Safety Resources
Past Aerossurance articles on the C208 include:
- Canadian Mining Icing Air Accident (Cessna 208B Caravan) where a cold soaked aircraft took off over gross weight due to accumulated ice from a previous flight.
- Cessna 208 Forced Landing: Engine Failure Due To Re-Assembly Error
- Micro FOD: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan Engine Failure & Forced Landing
- NTSB Report on C208B Caravan Ditching, Molokai, Hawaii, 2013
- Flying Control FOD: Screwdriver Found in C208 Controls
- C208B Force Landing After Inadequate Maintenance Fault Finding
- Costa Rican C208B Stalled While Trying To Avoid High Ground
Other articles include:
- UK AAIB Report on Two Ground Collisions
- S-92A Collision with Obstacle while Taxying
- Ground Collision Under Pressure: Challenger vs ATV: 1-0
- Ambulance / Air Ambulance Collision
- Fatal B206L3 Cell Phone Discount Distracted CFIT
- UPDATE 30 October 2021: RLC B407 Reverses into Sister Ship at GOM Heliport
- UPDATE 16 July 2022: Distracted Dynamic Rollover
- UPDATE 25 March 2023: Managing Interruptions: HEMS Call-Out During Engine Rinse
And from Alaska:
- Fatigue Featured in Anchorage Alaska Air Ambulance Accident
- US Dash 8-100 Stalled and Dropped 5000 ft Over Alaska
- Unalaska Saab 2000 Fatal Runway Excursion: PenAir N686PA 17 Oct 2019
- Deadly Combination of Misloading and a Somatogravic Illusion: Alaskan Otter
- Alaskan Mid Air Collision at Non-Tower Controlled Airfield
- Operator & FAA Shortcomings in Alaskan B1900 Accident
- All Aboard CFIT: Alaskan Sightseeing Fatal Flight
- UPDATE 20 May 2023: Oil & Gas Aerial Survey Aircraft Collided with Communications Tower
On human factors:
…and our review of The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error by Sidney Dekker presented to the Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS): The Field Guide to Understanding Human Error – A Review
The UK CAA has issued this infographic on distraction:
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