Cessna 182S N313MA accident near Toms River, New Jersey

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout during a night taxi. Contributing to the accident was the improper parking of a ground vehicle partially onto the taxiway.

NTSB analysis

According to the pilot, he was preparing to return to his home airport. He began to taxi to the runway about 30 minutes after sunset. While taxiing, the airplane’s left wing impacted an unlit, unoccupied truck, resulting in substantial damage to the wing. A review of security camera footage revealed that the truck was parked partly on the taxiway and that the airplane was on the taxiway centerline with the landing light illuminated when the impact occurred. A Notice to Airmen was in effect at the time of the accident, closing the taxiways and runway, but only pertained to aircraft 13,500 pounds and above. Another Notice to Airmen, closing the taxiways to all aircraft, took effect about 1 hour after the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10CA479 for the full record.