Grumman American Avn. Corp. AA-5 N9568U accident near Fort Worth, Texas

Probable cause

The distraction of the pilot during the taxi, resulting in a ground collision.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that after landing at the airport, he was taxing the airplane on the dry asphalt. During the taxi, he observed a motorcycle on the taxiway coming toward the airplane. While focusing on the motorcycle, the right wing impacted several garbage cans, the airplane turned to the right, and impacted a hangar door. The airplane came to rest upright, and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane without further incident.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. This was the pilot’s first visit to the airport, and he reported he did not visually observe the garbage cans during the taxi, as they were in an area that was shadowed from a hangar. According to the Federal Aviation Administration Chart Supplement for the airport, the remarks section states, “uncontrolled vehicle tfc inv of hangars and on twys.”

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN24LA034 for the full record.