ATL02LA007

NTSB accident investigation · North American SNJ-6 · Kissimmee, FL · October 20, 2001

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 20, 2001, 12:50 local (16:50 UTC)
Place
Kissimmee, FL
Injuries
4 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N453WANorth American SNJ-6N64AFCessna 172
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 28, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA - Orlando FSDO - 15
Case key
53701

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

See narrative for ATL02LA007A.

The failure of the SNJ-6 pilot to maintain visual lookout, resulting in an on-ground collision with another airplane.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water collision with objectTaxi
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - aircraft parked/standing
On ground/water collision with objectStanding - engine(s) operating
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The Cessna landed on runway 6, cleared the runway at taxiway Delta, and was instructed by ground control to hold position on the taxiway. The North American SNJ-6 pilot landed on runway 6, turned onto taxiway Delta, lost sight of the Cessna, and taxiied into the tail section of the Cessna. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane. The SNJ-6 sustained minor damage to the propeller and cowling. The Cessna sustained substantial damage; the rudder, vertical stabilizer, elevator, and horizontal stablizer were destroyed, the empennage displayed twisting up to the rear window, and the propeller was damaged.

The Cessna landed on runway 6, cleared the runway at taxiway Delta, and was instructed by ground control to hold position on the taxiway. The North American SNJ-6 pilot landed on runway 6, turned onto taxiway Delta, lost sight of the Cessna, and taxiied into the tail section of the Cessna . There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane. The SNJ-6 sustained minor damage to the propeller and cowling. The Cessna sustained substantial damage; the rudder, vertical stabilizer, elevator, and horizontal stablizer were destroyed, the empennage displayed twisting up to the rear window, and the propeller was damaged.

Factual narrative

see narrative for ATL02LA007A

On October 20, 2001, at 1250 eastern daylight time, a North American SNJ-6, N453WA, registered to Warbird Adventures, Inc., of Kissimmee, Florida, collided on the ground with a Cessna CE-172-R, N64AF, registered to Aviation Training Enterprises of West Chicago, Illinois, after landing at Kissimmee Municipal Airport in Kissimmee, Florida. The introductory instructional flight of the SNJ-6 was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan on file. The instructional flight of the Cessna was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with an instrument flight plan on file. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The SNJ-6 sustained minor damage, and the certified flight instructor and dual student were not injured. The Cessna sustained substantial damage, and the certified flight instructor and private-rated pilot were not injured. The SNJ-6 departed Kissimmee about 1235, and the Cessna departed Kissimmee at 1030.

Reportedly, the Cessna landed on runway 6 and cleared the runway at taxiway Delta. The pilots contacted ground control and were advised to hold position. The flight instructor in the Cessna reported that another Cessna airplane was on the taxiway in front of their position taxiing from right to left. While waiting for further clearance, the flight instructor and private pilot in the Cessna began completing their after-landing checks. While doing so, their airplane was struck from behind by the SNJ-6. The tail section of the Cessna was lifted up over the cowling of the SNJ-6, and the propeller of the Cessna struck the runway.

The SNJ-6 was cleared to land on runway 6 behind Cessna N64AF. While on final approach, the pilot of the SNJ-6 observed the Cessna exit the runway on taxiway Delta. After landing, the pilot of the SNJ-6 saw the Cessna on the taxiway and stated it appeared to be rolling forward and beginning a turn to the right. The pilot of the SNJ-6 turned off the runway onto taxiway Delta on the taxiway centerline and lost sight of the Cessna. The SNJ-6 pilot contacted ground control to request taxi clearance, and the propeller of the SNJ-6 collided with the tail section of the Cessna.

The initial examination of both airplanes revealed the SNJ-6 sustained minor damage to the propeller and cowling. The Cessna's rudder, vertical stabilizer, elevator, and horizontal stabilizer were destroyed, the empennage displayed twisting up to the rear window, and the propeller was damaged.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N453WA
Reported as
North American SNJ-6
Category
Airplane
Serial number
121-42823
Airframe hours
5,672.5
Engine
P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Warbird Adventures, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · July 7, 2001 · 50.5 hours before
Departed
ISM · Kissimmee, FL
Airport
ISM · Kissimmee Municipal Airport, runway 6, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N64AF
Reported as
Cessna 172
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17280069
Airframe hours
4,799
Engine
Lycoming IO-360, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
American Flyers
Registered owner
Aviation Training Enterprises of Illinois
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Last inspection
100 hour · September 27, 2001 · 60 hours before
Departed
ISM · Kissimmee, FL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ISM · Kissimmee Municipal Airport, runway 060, 5,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 3

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N453WA
Age
29
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
October 1, 2001
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
4,333 total · 140 in this make and model · 3,781 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 70 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N64AF
Age
25
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
June 11, 2001
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,050 total · 900 in this make and model · 990 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot, aircraft N64AF
Age
36
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Unknown, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
269 total · 80 in this make and model · 6 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
50° at 11 knots, gusting 14
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
30.03 inHg
Observed at
ISM

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.

Other investigations on N453WA · 1

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