# Accident 19990129001182A: Cessna 150L, Madera, CA, January 29, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 29, 1999, 16:01 local time
- Place: Madera, CA
- Airport: Madera Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, second aircraft
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9886° N, 120.1124° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at MADERA MUNI (MAE), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9886&lon=-120.1124&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6979G, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6979G) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Cessna 150L (registry code 2071826, https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150l) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental 0-200 series (registry code 17020, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150L
- Reported engine: CONT O200A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 806 total, 404 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX99LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA086) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990129001182A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.19)ON JANUARY 29, 1999, AT 1601 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, A COELHO RV4, N770RF, COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 150L, N6979G, WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF AT THE MADERA, CALIFORNIA, AIRPORT. THE CESSNA 150L WAS STATIONARY IN THE RUN-UP AREA CONDUCTING A PRETAKEOFF ENGINE AND SYSTEMS CHECK.  THE CESSNA 150L WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY MADERA COUNTY AIRCRAFTERS AND RENTED BY THE PILOT FOR A LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT.  THE COELHO RV4 WAS OWNED AND OPERATED BY ROCKET FACTORY, INC., AND WAS ALSO DEPARTING FOR A LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT.  THE CESSNA 150L WAS DESTROYED AND THE COELHO RV4 SUSTAINED MINOR PORPELLER DAMAGE.  NEITHER OF THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AIRCRAFT, WERE INJURED.  BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ON-GROUND COLLISION.  ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT FROM THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA 150L SHE WAS STOPPED IN THE RUN-UP AREA CONDUCTING A PRETAKEOFF ENGINE RUN-UP.  THE COELHO RV4, CONVENTIONAL LANDING GEAR-EQUIPPED AIRPLANE, TAXIED INTO THE TAIL OF THE CESSNA 150L AND THE PROPELLER DAMAGED THE ENTIRE CESSNA'S EMPENNAGE.                                                                                                                                      (.4)A COELHO RV4, N770RF, COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 150L, N6979G, WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF. THE CESSNA 150L WAS STOPPED ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY WAITING FOR DEPARTURE BEHIND TWO OTHER AIRPLANES.  THE CESSNA'S PILOT REPORTED THAT THE RUN-UP AREA WAS CONGESTED AND SHE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS ENOUGH ROOM TO SAFELY PULL INTO THE AREA.  WHILE WAITING ON THE TAXIWAY, THE PROPELLER OF A RV4 STRUCK THE TAIL SECTION OF HER AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT OF N770RF (A CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANE) STATED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING 'S' TURNS ON THE PARALLEL TAXIWAY WHILE TAXIING OUT FOR DEPARTURE AND DID NOT NOTICE THE CESSNA STOPPED ON THE TAXIWAY.                                              (-23) THE PILOT OF N6979G WAS IN PROCESS OF PERFORMING AN ENGINE RUNUP ON A TAXIWAY PRIOR TO A PLANED CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHT.  THE PILOT OF N770RF, AFTER REFUELING HIS AIRCRAFT, WAS TAXING FOR TAKEOFF AND PROCEEDED TO RUN INTO THE EMPANAGE OF N6979G.  THE DAMAGE TO N6979G WILL REQUIRE THE AIRCRAFT TO BE REBUILT FROM THE REAR WINDOW AFT.  THERE WAS ONLY PROPELLER DAMAGE TO THE RV4, N770RF.  THE NTSB HAS ASSIGNED A SEPARATE ACCIDENT NUMBER TO N770RF.  THE PILOT OF N6979G BEARS NO BLAME FOR THIS ACCIDENT.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N770RF, Amtr RV4: [Accident 19990129001181A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990129001181A)

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX99LA086](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA086), Jan 30, 1999: Cessna 150L (N6979G), Madera, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and to see the stationary airplane on the taxiway ahead.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.