Probable cause
The flight instructor's and pilot receiving instruction's failure to maintain clearance from a tree while taxiing.
NTSB analysis
The flight instructor reported that, with the pilot receiving instruction on the controls and while taxiing to parking, ground personnel instructed them to turn 180ยบ and then park. The instructor added that, during the right turn, after clearing a vehicle, he saw a tree and tried to apply brakes, but the airplane impacted the tree.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing.
The operator's director of maintenance reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA528 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 3, 2018
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Burbank, California
- Nearest airport
- Bob Hope (BUR)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Beech 200
- N-number
- N97WC
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1990
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
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.