Probable cause
The pilot's failure to see and avoid the marked helicopter dolly. Contributing to the accident were the dark night conditions.
NTSB analysis
The pilot landed and taxied toward his hangar during night, visual meteorological conditions. As the pilot entered a general aviation parking ramp, the right main landing gear struck a parked helicopter dolly. The right gear collapsed, the right wing forward and aft spars were damaged, and a fuel leak resulted. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector and the airport authority reported that the parked dolly was clearly marked. The pilot reported that he did not see the dolly prior to the collision.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09CA117 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 30, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Nearest airport
- Lovell Field (CHA)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night, dark
Beech G35
- N-number
- N400SC
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.