On February 27, 2001, a Beech 58 (registration N7383R) was involved in an aviation accident near Shreveport, LA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot's failure to maintain visual separation with a parked airplane while taxing. Contributory factors were the dark night light conditions, the rain, and the non-lighted ramp area where the unoccupied airplane was parked. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During dark night taxi after landing in rain, a Beech 58 collided with a parked Cessna 210L. The pilot reported glare and poor lighting. A postcollision fire destroyed the Cessna and damaged the Beech.
Incident Details
On a dark night with rain and a thunderstorm over the airport, a Beech 58 twin-engine airplane was taxiing on the ramp after landing. The pilot reported that he was taxiing slower than normal due to glare through the front windscreen. He observed a parked airplane to his right and then noticed a Cessna 210L positioned perpendicular to his direction of travel on his left. He applied brakes and initiated a right turn to avoid it, but the left wing and left engine of the Beech 58 contacted the propeller and engine of the Cessna 210L.
Postcollision Fire
A postcollision fire erupted, consuming the Cessna 210L and causing substantial damage to the Beech 58.
Contributing Conditions
The pilot stated that the Cessna 210L was parked in an unlighted area of the ramp. Officials from the Shreveport Regional Airport reported that a thunderstorm was over the airport at the time of the collision. The source does not specify any determination of probable cause.