Cessna 172M accident near Burlington, Vermont, June 19, 2013
On June 19, 2013 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Cessna 172M, registered N61947, was substantially damaged in an accident during taxi (to runway) near Burlington, Vermont (Burlington International Airpo airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper turn down an airport access road while attempting to taxi to a runway. Contributing to the accident was the airport management's failure to install proper signage indicating that an airport access road was prohibited to aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 2013 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Vermont · Burlington International Airpo · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N61947 · registry record · serial 17264906
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, after contacting ground control and receiving a taxi clearance, he taxied to the end of the exit ramp and then began to taxi the airplane to the departure runway by attempting to follow the airport signs. He turned right and subsequently realized that the airplane was on an airport access road instead of a taxiway. The airplane struck a fence to the right of the access road, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. Photographs provided by the airport showed no "No Entry Signs" in the vicinity of the airport access road. Although the airport operated under a Part 139 certificate, it did not have signage along the access road indicating that entry was prohibited for aircraft recommended in federal guidance for Part 139 airports. The lack of proper signage resulted in the pilot taxiing the airplane down the access road instead of a taxiway.
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 (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Taxiway markings/signage › Availability of related info
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Taxiway markings/signage › Compliance w/ procedure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 149 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: May 19, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,640 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Altitude Addiction LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BTV Burlington VT at 7:45 pm
- Destination: DAW Rochester NH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from BTV
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.