Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a parked helicopter.
NTSB analysis
The airline transport pilot was taxiing the airplane to the parking area and was concerned about an airplane parked on the left side of the taxilane. He maneuvered his airplane right of the taxiway centerline and struck a helicopter parked on the right side of the taxiway. Postincident investigation revealed that the taxilane object free area (TOFA) was 47.5 ft on either side of the taxilane centerline; Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airport design standards indicate that the TOFA should have been 57.5 ft on either side of the centerline. Although the parked airplane was within the TOFA, sufficient distance between the airplane and the helicopter remained such that the incident airplane could have taxied safely between them.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA17IA083 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Nov 29, 2016
- Type
- Incident
- Place
- Salinas, California
- Nearest airport
- Salinas Muni (SNS)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Night
Cessna 560
- N-number
- N22AF
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1991
- Damage
- Minor
- 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.