# NTSB CEN10LA422: Aero Commander S2R, N51AR, McCook, NE, July 22, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 22, 2010, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: McCook, NE - Coordinates: 40.20639, -100.591941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2064&lon=-100.5919&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 4, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA422 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76716/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76716 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA422 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during taxi, which resulted in a collision with a parked airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Taxi: Hazardous material leak/spill](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/450); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/450/sequence.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/450/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Fire/smoke (post-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 354 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/170/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Cabin safety event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/110/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped agricultural airplane had returned from a local flight and was refueling and reloading with the propeller operating. During that time, a second airplane arrived and parked on the airport ramp directly in front of the agricultural airplane. The pilot of the agricultural airplane completed refueling and reloading and began to taxi for takeoff. He made no turns and taxied straight ahead. Due to the tailwheel configuration of the airplane, the pilot had limited visibility when taxiing. The agricultural airplane taxied directly into the parked and unoccupied airplane, the operating propeller impacted that airplane, and both airplanes were immediately engulfed in fire. The pilot evacuated unassisted and was seriously injured. Both airplanes were substantially damaged by fire. ## Factual narrative On July 22, 2010 about 1145 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R, N51AR, was taxiing for take-off when it collided with a parked and unoccupied airplane, Piper PA-18A 150, N2287W, at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport (MCK) McCook, Nebraska. The fuselage, empennage, and both wings of N2287W were substantially damaged from impact with N51AR. Both airplanes were substantially damaged by the postimpact fire. The pilot of N51AR sustained serious injuries and no other persons were injured. N51AR was owned by Griff H Mallek DBA and was operated by Red Willow Aviation Spraying, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight. N51AR was refueling and reloading while parked on the ramp with the propeller operating. During that time N2287W arrived and parked on the airport ramp directly in front of N51AR. The occupants of N2287W exited the airplane and left the area. The pilot of the tailwheel equipped N51AR completed refueling and reloading and then began to taxi for take-off. He made no turns and taxied straight ahead. N51AR taxied directly into the parked and unoccupied airplane and the operating propeller impacted the second airplane. Witnesses reported that both airplanes were immediately engulfed in fire. The pilot of N51AR evacuated the airplane unassisted and the fire was extinguished by firefighters. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N51AR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51AR), registered now, S/N 1523R, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AERO COMMANDER S2R - Registry model: [Aero Commander S2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-s2r) (registry code 0143022) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Walter M601 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/walter-m601-series) (registry code 64002, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1523R - Airframe hours: 6213 - Engines: WALTER M601-E11 751 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Red Willow Aviation Spraying Inc, doing business as Red Willow Aviation Spraying Inc - Registered owner: Griff H Malleck DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2010, 50 hours before - Departed: MCK, McCook, NE - Destination: MCK, McCook, NE - Airport: MCK, McCook Ben Nelson Regional ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 26, 2010; seat: single; flight hours: 3,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 250 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KMCK ## 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 20100722039372A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100722039372A), Jul 22, 2010: Aero Comman S2R, Mccook, NE, Destroyed. On July 22, 2010, [privacy data omitted], was taxiing for takeoff in Aero commander, N51AR. Pilot [privacy data omitted] failed to observe Piper, PA-18-150,… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76716. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 766 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372200&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversations With FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372202&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations%20With%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Summary of Security Camera Video (item 3, .PDF, 14 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372171&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Summary%20of%20Security%20Camera%20Video-Master.PDF - Map (item 4, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372169&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Map-Master.PDF - Photo Showing Burned Wreckage (item 5, .PDF, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372179&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Showing%20Burned%20Wreckage-Master.PDF 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.