Piper PA-28-181 and Rockwell NA-265-80 accident near Scottsdale, Arizona, March 22, 1999
On March 22, 1999, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-181 (N4188E) and Rockwell NA-265-80 (N818DW), were involved in the same accident near Scottsdale, Arizona (Scottsdale Airport). No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the local and ground controller to coordinate the clearances of both aircraft and to maintain separation of the traffic in the taxiway movement area.
The failure of the local and ground controller to coordinate the clearances of both aircraft and to maintain separation of the traffic in the taxiway movement area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 22, 1999
- Place
- Scottsdale, Arizona · Scottsdale Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 6 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N4188E · no longer on the register · serial 28-43212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Rockwell NA-265-80
- Registration
- N818DW · registry record · serial 380-030
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Executive or corporate flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-181 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Piper PA-28-181, and a Rockwell NA-265-80, Sabreliner, collided on a taxiway parallel to the runway while taxing to their respective parking locations. Both aircraft had just landed on runway 21 and were in contact with the ATCT. The Piper was issued a clearance to taxi by the ground controller, and the Sabreliner had turned off the runway and was issued a taxi clearance by the local controller. The Piper exited the runway at taxiway A11, and contacted ground control. A taxi clearance was issued by the controller to proceed southbound on taxiway alpha to parking. The controller did not advise the pilot of any traffic entering the taxiway from the runway. At the time the ground controller issued the taxi clearance to the Piper, the Sabreliner was given a landing clearance by the local controller. The Sabreliner slowed and was preparing to turn off the runway at A7; however, the local controller inquired where the aircraft was parking and subsequently told the crew to taxi forward on the runway, turn off at A5 and taxi to parking, and to monitor ground. As the pilot of The Piper approached the intersection of A5, she observed the Sabreliner exiting runway 21 and continued taxiing because it appeared that the Sabreliner was stopping and no other instructions were issued by the ground controller. When the Piper reached the intersection she realized the Sabreliner wasn't stopping and attempted to turn right and avoid the aircraft. The left wing of the Piper struck the forward avionics bay of the Sabreliner. The local controller did not advise the crew of the Sabreliner of any traffic on the taxiway. The crew said they turned off runway 21 on A5 and the first officer was looking down at the pedestal changing radio frequencies just as they crossed the hold bars. The crew reported that they did not see the Piper on taxiway alpha. Review of the air-to-ground communications tapes disclosed that neither of the controllers issued traffic information or hold short instructions to either aircraft. FAA Order 7110.65 specifically states that local controllers and ground controllers shall exchange information as necessary for the safe and efficient use of airport runways and movement areas. Local controllers and ground controllers shall protect any runway/taxiway/ramp intersection if an aircraft is required to enter that intersection to clear the landing runway.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Rockwell NA-265-80 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Piper PA-28-181, and a Rockwell NA-265-80, Sabreliner, collided on a taxiway parallel to the runway while taxing to their respective parking locations. Both aircraft had just landed on runway 21 and were in contact with the ATCT. The Piper was issued a clearance to taxi by the ground controller, and the Sabreliner had turned off the runway and was issued a taxi clearance by the local controller. The Piper exited the runway at taxiway A11, and contacted ground control. A taxi clearance was issued by the controller to proceed southbound on taxiway alpha to parking. The controller did not advise the pilot of any traffic entering the taxiway from the runway. At the time the ground controller issued the taxi clearance to the Piper, the Sabreliner was given a landing clearance by the local controller. The Sabreliner slowed and was preparing to turn off the runway at A7; however, the local controller inquired where the aircraft was parking and subsequently told the crew to taxi forward on the runway, turn off at A5 and taxi to parking, and to monitor ground. As the pilot of The Piper approached the intersection of A5, she observed the Sabreliner exiting runway 21 and continued taxiing because it appeared that the Sabreliner was stopping and no other instructions were issued by the ground controller. When the Piper reached the intersection she realized the Sabreliner wasn't stopping and attempted to turn right and avoid the aircraft. The left wing of the Piper struck the forward avionics bay of the Sabreliner. The local controller did not advise the crew of the Sabreliner of any traffic on the taxiway. The crew said they turned off runway 21 on A5 and the first officer was looking down at the pedestal changing radio frequencies just as they crossed the hold bars. The crew reported that they did not see the Piper on taxiway alpha. Review of the air-to-ground communications tapes disclosed that neither of the controllers issued traffic information or hold short instructions to either aircraft. FAA Order 7110.65 specifically states that local controllers and ground controllers shall exchange information as necessary for the safe and efficient use of airport runways and movement areas. Local controllers and ground controllers shall protect any runway/taxiway/ramp intersection if an aircraft is required to enter that intersection to clear the landing runway.
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 for the Piper PA-28-181 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 66 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 192 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, March 13, 1999; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL at 11:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 8,251 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Rockwell NA-265-80 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,396 hours in all; 2,984 in this make and model; 99 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 3,316 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,179 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 6, 1999; 96 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 23,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Ge CF700-2D2 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKC Kansas City KS at 9:48 pm
- Destination: SDL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 21, 8,251 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N4188E the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
2012-09-13WPR12FA420 · accident near Strawberry, AZ · substantial damage · fatal
2001-03-20LAX01LA122 · accident near Gila Bend, AZ · substantial damage · no injuries
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.