20250719009102A

Accident · Minor damage

FAA accident report · Nelson Douglas VANS RV-8 · Hollister, CA · July 19, 2025

Date: July 19, 2025 · 11:42 local
Place: Hollister, CA
Airport: Hollister
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Collision: Midair collision
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N926DT
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR25LA219
Reported as: Nelson Douglas Vans RV-8
Reported engine: Lycoming O-360 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 4,049 total1,344 in this make and model9 in the last 90 days

N926DTRegistered now · Nelson Douglas VANS RV-8S/N 80759 · Built 2002 Airframe modelNelson Douglas VANS RV-8 Engine modelLycoming I0360 SER A&CReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

RV8 was conducting a return to service flight, after replacing magneto.

Completed run-up on taxiway a rwy 31 at Hollister municipal airport (kcvh).

Airman inadvertently transmitted on wrong frequency.

Cirrus aircraft was on a straight in instrument approach and was not observed by RV8 or other airplane in run-up area.

RV8 pilot conducted normal takeoff. At approximately 100 feet, the propeller struck the cirrus' left horizontal stabilizer and elevator, immediately causing the Cirrus to nose over and strike the runway. The RV8 continued to climb then landed immediately on rwy 31.

RV8 exited at end of rwy 31 and taxied to parking.

As the FAA filed it

RV8 WAS CONDUCTING A RETURN TO SERVICE FLIGHT, AFTER REPLACING MAGNETO.

COMPLETED RUN-UP ON TAXIWAY A RWY 31 AT HOLLISTER MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (KCVH).

AIRMAN INADVERTENTLY TRANSMITTED ON WRONG FREQUENCY.

CIRRUS AIRCRAFT WAS ON A STRAIGHT IN INSTRUMENT APPROACH AND WAS NOT OBSERVED BY RV8 OR OTHER AIRPLANE IN RUN-UP AREA.

RV8 PILOT CONDUCTED NORMAL TAKEOFF. AT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET, THE PROPELLER STRUCK THE CIRRUS' LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER AND ELEVATOR, IMMEDIATELY CAUSING THE CIRRUS TO NOSE OVER AND STRIKE THE RUNWAY. THE RV8 CONTINUED TO CLIMB THEN LANDED IMMEDIATELY ON RWY 31.

RV8 EXITED AT END OF RWY 31 AND TAXIED TO PARKING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR25LA219Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportHollister, CAThe departing pilot’s failure to see and avoid the landing airplane during the takeoff, which resulted in a mid-air collision.Jul 19, 2025 · 2 aircraft · Minor damage

Other aircraft in the event · 1

Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.

N5155GMake and model not reportedNo report for this aircraft in the release