Raytheon Aircraft Company A36 accident near Rutland, Vermont, December 31, 2012
On December 31, 2012 at about 2:15 pm local time, a Raytheon Aircraft Company A36, registered N256DB, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (from runway) near Rutland, Vermont (Rutland - Southern Vermont Reg airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering on a snow-packed surface after landing, which resulted in a collision with a fuel truck.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 31, 2012 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Rutland, Vermont · Rutland - Southern Vermont Reg · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Raytheon Aircraft Company A36
- Registration
- N256DB · registry record · serial E-3081
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, after landing, he taxied the airplane to the fixed base operator in order to use the external heater plugs on the ramp. He reported that he initiated a left turn as the airplane approached a parked fuel truck; however, due to snow-packed ramp conditions, the airplane continued straight. The pilot added more power and applied left rudder to get the airplane to turn. The right wing tip impacted the fuel truck grounding wire wheel. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar on the outboard 3 feet of the wing with one wing rib exposed. No other damage was noted on the airplane. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service › Towing and taxiing › Taxiing › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Snowy/icy › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 667 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 562 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 9, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,307 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2012; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,750 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N07 Lincoln Park Ai NJ at 12:30 pm
- Destination: RUT Rutland VT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,003 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,800 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from RUT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 3 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA13CA100.