# NTSB BFO90LA078: de Havilland DH-82A, N9279, Bealeton, VA, September 23, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 23, 1990, 13:15 local (17:15 UTC) - Place: Bealeton, VA - Coordinates: 38.569225, -77.760528 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5692&lon=-77.7605&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 3 minor - Status: Completed, report September 15, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 11613 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO90LA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11613/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO90LA078 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VIGILENT WATCH FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT OPERATING ON THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. THE UNEVEN TERRAIN ON THE AIRPORT RESTRICTED VISIBILITY AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE IMPROPER SIGNALS GIVEN BY THE GROUND FLAGMAN. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A VIGILENT WATCH FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT OPERATING ON THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. THE UNEVEN TERRAIN ON THE AIRPORT RESTRICTED VISIBILITY AND CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. ANOTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTOR WAS THE IMPROPER SIGNALS GIVEN BY THE GROUND FLAGMAN. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor) - visual lookout - restricted, pilot in command (cause) - airport operations - inadequate (contributing factor) - inattentive, ground personnel (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - terrain condition - uphill (contributing factor) - visual lookout - restricted, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, ground personnel (cause) - inattentive, ground personnel (contributing factor) - airport operations - inadequate (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS WAITING TO DEPART THE AIRSTRIP FOR A BRIEF LOCAL FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE WAS HOLDING IN RESPONSE TO SIGNALS FROM A GROUND FLAGMAN WHO WAS POSITIONED TO 'SEE AIRCRAFT AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE TWO RUNWAYS AND SIGNAL THE DEPARTING PILOT WHEN THE RUNWAY IS CLEAR FOR HIS TAKEOFF.' USE OF THE GROUND FLAGMAN WAS DESCRIBED AS STANDARD PROCEDURE AT THE UNCONTROLLED GRASS STRIP BECAUSE OF A CREST IN THE RUNWAY WHICH RESTRICTED VISIBILITY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW TWO AIRCRAFT LAND ON THE INTERSECTING RUNWAY, BUT LOST SIGHT OF ONE OF THE AIRCRAFT AS IT TAXIED. THE GROUND FLAGMAN SIGNALLED THE RYAN PILOT TO TAKEOFF; HE BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ROLL, AND COLLIDED WITH THE TAXIING AIRCRAFT AT A POINT APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM THE INTERSECTION OF THE RUNWAYS. NEITHER PILOT SAW THE OTHER AIRCRAFT UNTIL AFTER THE COLLISION. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE PILOT STATED THAT AFTER A BRIEF LOCAL FLIGHT, HE LANDED TO THE NORTH ON THE NORTH-SOUTH GRASS STRIP. THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED OUT AND THE PILOT TURNED LEFT ONTO THE DIAGONAL GRASS STRIP, AND BEGAN TO TAXI SOUTHEASTBOUND TOWARD HIS HANGAR. HE REPORTED THAT 'AS I TAXIED ALONG THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, THE RYAN ON TAKEOFF...HIT ME. I NEVER SAW HIM.' HE ALSO STATED THAT THE PILOT OF THE RYAN NEVER SAW HIM, AND ATTRIBUTED THIS TO A CREST IN THE RUNWAY. THE RYAN PILOT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A SIGNAL FROM THE GROUND FLAGMAN INDICATING THAT HE WAS CLEARED TO BEGIN HIS TAKEOFF ROLL. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N9279 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: de Havilland DH-82A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: A17-64 - Airframe hours: 5230 - Engines: UNKNOWN 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John R. Frizzell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1990, 55 hours before - Airport: 3VA3, Flying Circus Aerodrome, runway 33, 1,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N57015](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57015), registered now, S/N 2042, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RYAN ST3KR - Registry model: [Ryan Aeronautical ST3KR](https://openairdocs.org/model/ryan-aeronautical-st3kr) (registry code 7830502) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Kinner R5 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kinner-r5-series) (registry code 37504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2042 - Airframe hours: 1727 - Engines: UNKNOWN reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Robert M. Orr - Registered owner: Norbob, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1990, 53 hours before - Airport: 3VA3, Flying Circus Aerodrome, runway 33, 1,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9279; age 69; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,714 total, 1,250 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N57015; age 58; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 20,000 total, 600 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 215 in the last 90 days, 67 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 18 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IAD, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19900923041632A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900923041632A), Sep 23, 1990: Dhavxx DH82AWILLIAM, Warrenton, VA, Destroyed. While taxiing on 15 collided with N57015 that was on takeoff on runway 33. Hill hid each other. Flagman made error. - [Accident 19900923041631A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900923041631A), Sep 23, 1990: Ryan ST3KR, Warrenton, VA, Destroyed. During takeoff on 33 collided with N9279 taxiing opposite direction. Hill hid aircraft from other. Flagman errored. 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. --- 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.