No fatalities

Aircraft Wing Strikes Light Pole During Taxi

Apalachicola, FL, United States

On January 1, 2015, a PIPER PA-46-350P operated by CHICOLA MONTY V was involved in an aviation accident near Apalachicola, FL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in the airplane striking a pole. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot collided with a light pole while taxiing to a parking spot, after a lineman directed him to park next to a jet. The wing sustained structural damage.

Event Narrative

After landing, the pilot taxied the aircraft to the fixed base operator to park. As he approached the parking ramp, a lineman stood in front of a tie-down spot and raised both hands in the air, signaling to the pilot where to park. The designated parking spot was adjacent to a parked jet. The pilot later stated that while taxiing to the parking spot, he was concentrating on maintaining clearance from the parked jet and did not observe a light pole located at the edge of the ramp.

Damage

The right wing of the aircraft struck the light pole, resulting in structural damage to the wing.

Contributing factors

Pilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1 Jan 2015 PIPER PA-46-350P accident near Apalachicola, FL?

A pilot collided with a light pole while taxiing to a parking spot, after a lineman directed him to park next to a jet. The wing sustained structural damage.

Were there any fatalities in the 1 Jan 2015 PIPER PA-46-350P accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1 Jan 2015 involved a PIPER PA-46-350P, operated by CHICOLA MONTY V, at Apalachicola, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in the airplane striking a pole.