Primary finding
Probable cause
The ground personnel's failure to ensure that the airplane was clear of obstructions which resulted in the right wing colliding with a utility pole. A factor was the pilot's inadequate visual lookout
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to the pilot, she completed a normal landing and was taxiing to parking when a ground guide on the ramp approached the airplane to assist with the parking. As the airplane neared the parking spot, the ground guide instructed the pilot to turn left. As the pilot started the turn, the right outboard wing panel collided with a utility pole on the ramp
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 10, 1993, at 1015 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172 , N4856D, collided with a utility pole while taxiing to parking at the New Hanover County Airport, Wilmington, North Carolina. The instructional flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the collision. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the student pilot was not injured. The flight departed Wilmington at 0915 hours. According to the pilot, she had completed a local flight and was cleared to taxi to the ramp. Upon arriving at the parking area, a line boy came out to assist the pilot with the parking of the airplane; the pilot proceeded to follow the ground guide's instructions. As the ground guide instructed the pilot to turn left, the right wing collided with a utility pole. -