Accident Details
On November 10, 2010, about 1657 mountain standard time, a Piper PA30, registration N628R, collided with a light post and a building during taxi after landing at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Arizona. The aircraft was operated by the pilot/owner under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, who held an airline transport pilot certificate with a certified flight instructor (CFI) rating, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing.
Flight History
The cross-country personal flight departed Stellar Airpark, Phoenix, Arizona, at 1520, with a planned destination of Tucson. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot had flown from Tucson to Phoenix earlier that day to complete a flight check for his CFI renewal. Due to a severe headache he was experiencing, he terminated the check ride during the oral examination.
Pilot's Condition
The pilot reported that his thinking had been impaired all day. He had a severe headache and was having trouble with his left side motor skills. Several hours after the accident, the pilot's wife noticed he was shuffling his left foot. He stated he was still experiencing the severe headache he had at the start of the day. He went to a hospital that night for examination, where medical personnel discovered a subdural hematoma and performed immediate surgery to remove blood from his brain.
Event Sequence
After landing on runway 11L, the pilot could not slow the airplane down by taxiway A11, so he continued to taxiway A13. He was unable to stop the airplane prior to crossing taxiway A or execute a left turn. The airplane continued forward until it struck a Fire Department warning light post with the right wing tip tank. Fuel began escaping as the airplane continued forward into the Fire Department's plate glass window. The pilot estimated his speed at the point of contact was 5 miles per hour and stated he did not hit his head.
Mechanical Condition
The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane.