# Accident 20091129022169A: Curtis TRVAIR4000, Torrance, CA, November 29, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 29, 2009, 13:45 local time
- Place: Torrance, CA
- Airport: Zamperini Field
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Taxi
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.8033° N, 118.3394° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8033&lon=-118.3394&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8700, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8700) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 (registry code 2621802, https://openairdocs.org/model/curtiss-wright-travel-air-4000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental W670 series (registry code 17018, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-w670-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CURTIS TRVAIR4000
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR10CA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091129022169A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT OF THE TRAVELAIR, N8700, STATED HE WAS TAXIING FROM HIS HANGAR, 2781-B, AT THE EAST T-HANGARS TO REFUEL HIS AIRCRAFT WITH NO INTENTION TO FLY.  HE WAS TAXIING NORTH ON THE TAXIWAY BETWEEN THE HANGARS 2781 AND 2785 AND WAS PERFORMING A LIMITED S-TURN DUE TO THE LIMITED SPACE ON THE TAXIWAY BETWEEN THE HANGARS.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT NOTICE THE LANCAIR ON THE TAXIWAY PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE.  THE LANCAIR WAS STATIONARY ON THE TAXIWAY WITH THE PROPELLER TURNING.  THE TRAVELAIR TAXIED INTO THE LANCAIR.  THE ROOT END OF THE TRAVELAIR'S PROPELLER STRUCK THE VERTICAL STAB ON THE LANCAIR 235, N880RS.  THE LANCAIR SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE RUDDER AND TOP OF THE VERTICAL STAB.  THE TAXIWAY IS NOT LEVEL AND WAS A DOWN HILL TAXI IN THE DIRECTION THE TRAVELAIR WAS MOVING.  THE TOP OF THE VERTICAL STAB ON THE LANCAIR WAS APPROXIMATELY 6 FEET FROM THE GROUND AND THE SPINNER ON THE TRAVELAIR WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER.  THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE DAMAGE TO THE TRAVELAIR.

## 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 WPR10CA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA079), Nov 29, 2009: Curtiss Wright Travel AIR 4000 (N8700), Torrance, CA, no damage. Probable cause: The Travel Air pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout during taxi.

## Other reports on N8700 (3)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20210428007369I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210428007369I), Apr 28, 2021: Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 (N8700), Torrance, Minor damage. Description of incident as reported by toa ATCT: on April 28, 2021 travelaire N8700 piloted by private pilot [privacy data omitted], landed on runway 29R at…
- [Incident 20210313005669I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210313005669I), Mar 13, 2021: Curtiss Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 (N8700), Torrance, CA, Minor damage. N8700 landed rwy 29L and was attempting to exit the rwy at taxiway foxtrot when the aircraft started an uncontrolled left turn. The aircraft came to a stop…
- [Incident 19850426022259I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850426022259I), Apr 26, 1985: Curtis TRVAIR4000 (N8700), El Toro, CA, Minor damage. Aircraft was NR3 in flight of three instructed to hold short after landing. No radio and collided with NR2.

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.

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