On July 12, 2001, a Mooney M20J (registration N4326H) was involved in an aviation accident near Las Vegas, NV. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadaquate visual lookout and failure to maintain proper clearance from an object. A factor was the pilot's distraction by a conversation with ground control. 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.
An aircraft collided with a metal pole during taxi after following a 'follow me' golf cart. The pilot was distracted by ground control providing a phone number. The gap between the parked aircraft and the pole was 78 feet; the wing span was 35 feet.
Incident Details
During taxi, the aircraft collided with a pole. According to the fixed base operator (FBO), the aircraft was following a "follow me" golf cart and passed through an opening between a parked aircraft and a metal pole. The total distance between the parked aircraft and the pole was measured at 78 feet, while the wing span of the accident aircraft was measured at 35 feet.
Pilot Statement
The pilot stated that while taxiing behind the "follow me" golf cart, he was distracted by ground control, who was trying to provide him with a telephone number to contact the tower after securing his aircraft.