Beech 350 and Socata TBM 700 accident near Visalia, California, December 17, 2019
On December 17, 2019 at about 7:16 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Beech 350 (N160RW) and Socata TBM 700 (N961GG), were involved in the same accident near Visalia, California (Visalia Airport). No one was hurt; 3 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 single-engine pilot’s failure to yield to traffic established on the taxiway, which resulted in a ground collision.
The single-engine pilot's failure to yield to traffic established on the taxiway, which resulted in a ground collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 17, 2019 · about 7:16 pm local time
- Place
- Visalia, California · Visalia Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech 350, built 1998
- Registration
- N160RW · registry record · serial FL-226
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Socata TBM 700, built 2016 · all TBM 700s on the register
- Registration
- N961GG · no longer on the register · serial 1111
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech 350 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that he was taxiing from the hangar to runway 12 via taxiway A. As he turned right onto taxiway D, his airplane impacted a multiengine airplane established on the taxiway, which he had not seen. The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that he was taxiing on taxiway D for runway 12 when the single-engine airplane entered taxiway D and impacted the right side of his airplane. According to the airport manager, there is a sign on taxiway A stating, "Stop and Hold." The multiengine airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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 NTSB's narrative for the Socata TBM 700 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the single-engine airplane reported that he was taxiing from the hangar to runway 12 via taxiway A. As he turned right onto taxiway D, his airplane impacted a multiengine airplane established on the taxiway, which he had not seen. The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that he was taxiing on taxiway D for runway 12 when the single-engine airplane entered taxiway D and impacted the right side of his airplane. According to the airport manager, there is a sign on taxiway A stating, "Stop and Hold." The multiengine airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures 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 for the Beech 350 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,418.8 hours in all; 257 in this make and model; 108.9 in the last 90 days; 35.2 in the last 30 days; 5,418.8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,311.1 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, May 23, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 15,000 lb
- Seats: 11
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A (turboprop); 4,453 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60A (turboprop); 4,453 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VIS Vasalia CA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: SBP San Luis Obisp CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 6,562 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 10:56 am
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Socata TBM 700 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,500 hours in all; 85 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 49 in the last 30 days; 15,750 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 7, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 241.4 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, May 28, 2019
- Maximum gross weight: 7,394 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-66D (turboprop); 276 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VIS Visalia CA at 6:55 pm
- Destination: MRY Monterey
- Flight plan: none
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.
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 WPR20CA046.