On February 1, 1997, a Piper PA-30 (registration N64TD) operated by George Carter was involved in an aviation accident near Sarasota, FL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
After landing at a private airport, a pilot taxied back to the owner's house. Upon returning, a wrong turn led to maneuvering around a mailbox, causing the opposite wing to strike a tree and separate from the spar.
Incident Overview
A pilot who had just landed at a private airport with the airplane's owner was instructed by the owner to taxi back on the runway to the owner's residence located off the opposite end of the runway. The pilot subsequently exited the runway onto a grass taxiway that led into an aviation community.
Taxi Route and Obstacles
During the taxi, the owner advised the pilot of various obstacles, including mailboxes and trees. The pilot successfully navigated to the owner's house or hangar, where the owner disembarked. The pilot then began taxiing back to the runway.
Collision Sequence
While returning, the pilot made a wrong turn. In an attempt to maneuver around a mailbox on one side of the airplane, the wing on the opposite side struck a tree, resulting in the wing separating from the spar. The damage was limited to the wing separation; no further details about injuries or other damage were provided in the source.