# NTSB CEN10CA468: Piper J3C-85, N98022, Auburn, IN, August 3, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 3, 2010, 18:24 local (22:24 UTC)
- Place: Auburn, IN
- Coordinates: 41.30722, -85.064445
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3072&lon=-85.0644&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76913
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA468
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76913/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA468

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

The pilot of the other airplane failing to monitor the position this airplane.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The pilot's failure to monitor the position of the other airplane.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper J3C-85, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=7100525), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper J3C-85, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=7100525), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 152, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2071835), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

The pilot of the Piper reported that he was taxiing to the runway for departure and he saw another airplane, a Cessna stopped on the taxiway. He reported that the Cessna radioed that he was holding short of the runway. The pilot of the Piper said that he expected the Cessna to move to the hold short line but the Cessna was 30 feet from the hold short line. The Piper struck the Cessna from behind resulting in damage to both airplanes. The Piper sustained damage to its left wing and propeller. The Cessna sustained damage to its right wing and aileron. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was stopped on the taxiway waiting for landing traffic when his airplane was struck from behind by the Piper.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The pilot of the Piper reported that he was taxiing to the runway for departure and he saw another airplane, a Cessna stopped on the taxiway. He reported that the Cessna radioed that he was holding short of the runway. The pilot of the Piper said that he expected the Cessna to move to the hold short line but the Cessna was 30 feet from the hold short line. The Piper struck the Cessna from behind resulting in damage to both airplanes. The Piper sustained damage to its left wing and propeller. The Cessna sustained damage to its right wing and aileron. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was stopped on the taxiway waiting for landing traffic when his airplane was struck from behind by the Piper.

## Factual narrative (aircraft 2)

The pilot of N98022, a Piper J3C-85, reported that he was taxiing to the runway for departure and he saw another airplane, N93927, a Cessna 152, stopped on the taxiway. He reported that the Cessna radioed that he was holding short of the runway. The pilot of the Piper said that he expected the Cessna to move to the hold short line but the Cessna was 30 feet from the hold short line. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was stopped on the taxiway waiting for landing traffic when his airplane was struck from behind by the Piper. The Piper struck the Cessna from behind resulting in damage to both airplanes. The Piper sustained damage to its left wing and propeller. The Cessna sustained damage to its right wing and aileron.

## Factual narrative (aircraft 1)

The pilot of N98022, a Piper J3C-85, reported that he was taxiing to the runway for departure and he saw another airplane, N93927, a Cessna 152, stopped on the taxiway. He reported that the Cessna radioed that he was holding short of the runway. The pilot of the Piper said that he expected the Cessna to move to the hold short line but the Cessna was 30 feet from the hold short line. The pilot of the Cessna reported that he was stopped on the taxiway waiting for landing traffic when his airplane was struck from behind by the Piper. The Piper struck the Cessna from behind resulting in damage to both airplanes. The Piper sustained damage to its left wing and propeller. The Cessna sustained damage to its right wing and aileron.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N98022](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98022), registered now, S/N 18165, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER J3C-85
- Registry model: [Piper J3C-85](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-85) (registry code 7100525) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18165
- Airframe hours: 2142
- Engines: CONT MOTOR C85 SERIES 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, July 30, 2010
- Departed: GWB, Auburn, IN
- Destination: GWB, Auburn, IN
- Airport: GWB, Dekalb County Airport

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N93927](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N93927), registered now, S/N 15285574, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15285574
- Airframe hours: 6160
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Williams Michael T
- Registered owner: Williams Michael T
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 12, 2009
- Departed: GWB, Auburn, IN
- Destination: GWB, Auburn, IN
- Airport: GWB, Dekalb County Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N98022; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 30, 2010; seat: rear; flight hours: 558 total, 356 in this make and model, 402 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N93927; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 426 total, 286 in this make and model, 373 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observed at: GWB

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20100803042851A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100803042851A), Aug 3, 2010: Piper J3C-85, Auburn, IN, Substantial damage. N93927 (Cessna-C152) was holding short of runway 27 for landing traffic on taxiway A3(south) when N98022 (Piper-J3C) taxied into the right wing of the Cessna…

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.

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