On 31 Mar 2020, a Piper PA28R 201T was involved in an aviation accident near Palm Springs, CA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to see and avoid a parked vehicle near the taxiway edge. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot reported that while taxiing, his airplane veered left and its wing struck a parked truck. The truck's color blended with a hangar background, making it unseen. No mechanical issues were found.
Incident
While taxiing toward the runway, a pilot experienced an unexpected veer to the left. He promptly shut down the engine and discovered that the left wing of the airplane had struck the windshield of a small truck parked at the edge of the taxiway.
Contributing Factors
Neither the pilot nor the passenger observed the parked truck prior to the collision. The pilot stated that the truck's color blended into the background of a nearby hangar, rendering it difficult to see against the surrounding environment.
Aircraft Damage
The left wing of the airplane sustained substantial damage as a result of the impact.
Pilot's Report
The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. No further details regarding the airplane or truck were provided.