# NTSB CEN12LA488: Joseph C. Andrews, Jr. Vans, N122JA, Valentine, NE, July 27, 2012

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 27, 2012, 13:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place: Valentine, NE
- Coordinates: 42.856666, -100.548889
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8567&lon=-100.5489&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 84478
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA488
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84478/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84478
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA488

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

The RV-6 pilot's failure to monitor the location of the RV-4, resulting in the on-ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the RV-6 pilot not ensuring proper separation from the RV-4 and his expectation that the pilot of RV-4 would roll out to the end of the runway.

## Findings

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

- [Info processing/decision: expectation/assumption](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Andrews Joseph C JR VAN RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md?model=05625SJ), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Andrews Joseph C JR VAN RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=05625SJ), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: expectation/assumption](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Smith Harold H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md?model=05603J4), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041525/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Smith Harold H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=05603J4), [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.

- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Andrews Joseph C JR VAN RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05625SJ), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Smith Harold H RV-6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05603J4), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

The accident airplanes were part of a flight of four airplanes. The first airplane, an RV-4, landed and exited the runway. The second airplane, another RV-4, landed and was in the process of turning off the runway at a runway intersection. Although the third airplane, an RV-6, had been making S-turns for spacing behind the second RV-4, he did not obtain proper separation and landed and collided with it. The fourth airplane, an RV-4, abandoned the approach, went around, and then landed uneventfully. The RV-6 pilot said he expected that the pilot of the second RV-4 would roll out to the end of the runway.

## Factual narrative (aircraft 1)

On July 27, 2012, about 1350 central daylight time, a Vans RV-6, N766HS, collided with a Vans RV-4, N122JA, after landing at Miller Field (KVTN), Valentine, Nebraska. The pilot of the RV-4 was seriously injured and succumbed to his injuries on August 17, 2012. The pilot of the RV-6 sustained minor injuries. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. Both airplanes were registered to and operated by their respective pilots under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flights. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plans had been filed. The cross-country flights originated from Jackson Municipal Airport (KMJQ), Jackson, Minnesota, about 1000. According to the pilots involved, this was a flight of four airplanes, three Vans RV-4s and a Vans RV-6, that were en route from the 2012 Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to their home bases in Washington State. They had landed for fuel at KMJQ and were landing at KVTN for fuel at the time of the accident. According to the accident report submitted by the pilot of the RV-6, the first airplane, N49DB, an RV-4, landed on runway 14 and exited at the end of the runway. The pilot of the RV-6 said he was following the accident RV-4 (N122JA) and made S-turns on final approach for more separation. He said he also moved to the far left side of the runway in order to avoid wake turbulence over the runway threshold from N122JA. As the RV-6 crossed the runway threshold, he saw that N122JA had landed and was on rollout. The RV-6 pilot flared for landing in a 3-point conventional attitude but did not see that N122JA had moved to the left of the centerline. The collision followed. The pilot exited his airplane and went to the aid of the pilot of N122JA. He said when they landed at other airports, all the airplanes would roll out to the end of the runway, then back-taxi to the ramp together. This was what he had expected. The pilot of the fourth airplane, N579MS, an RV-4, saw the RV-6 making S-turns for spacing behind the RV-4. He said N49DB, the lead aircraft, had landed and had rolled to the end of runway 14 and N122JA had landed on the first third of the runway. He said the RV-6 was close behind and lined up to the left of the centerline and was beginning to touch down. N122JA slowed and started turning left at a runway intersection. The RV-6 then struck the left side of the RV-4 and cartwheeled over the top of it, coming to rest close to the RV-4. The pilot of N579MS abandoned his approach, went around, and landed uneventfully. He also went to the aid of the injured pilot. An employee of the airport's fixed base operator, who was in the shop, looked up and saw the RV-4 bounce up in the air. He said the RV-6 had already gone past the RV-4 and was sliding backwards. He said it appeared that the RV-6 had struck the RV-4 behind the pilot's seat with its propeller and landing gear, almost cutting it in half. AValentine police officer's report noted that he was dispatched to the airport at 1352. When he arrived, the pilot of the RV-6 told him he did not realize the RV-4 had slowed and had turned into his path. The RV-4 was nearly cut in half. Both wings on the RV-6 bore leading edge damage, and the vertical stabilizer was twisted.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N122JA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N122JA-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N 2113, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Joseph C. Andrews, Jr. Vans (RV-4)
- Registry model: [Andrews Joseph C JR VAN RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/andrews-joseph-c-jr-van-rv-4) (registry code 05625SJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2113
- Airframe hours: 1013
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Joseph C. Andrews, Jr.
- Registered owner: Joseph C. Andrews, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2012
- Departed: KMJQ, Jackson, MN
- Destination: KVTN, Valentine, NE
- Airport: KVTN, Miller Field Airport, runway 14, 4,704 × 75 ft, concrete

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N766HS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N766HS-2013-02-14), registration cancelled 2013-02-14, S/N 20509, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Harold H. Smith Vans
- Registry model: [Smith Harold H RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-harold-h-rv-6) (registry code 05603J4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20509
- Airframe hours: 1030
- Engines: Lycoming O-320-D1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Harold H. Smith
- Registered owner: Harold H. Smith
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2012
- Departed: KMJQ, Jackson, MN
- Destination: KVTN, Valentine, NE
- Airport: KVTN, Miller Field Airport, runway 14, 4,704 × 75 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N122JA; age 77; injuries: fatal; flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 26,000 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 20,000 as pilot in command, 48 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N766HS; age 73; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 5, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 1,768 total, 1,030 in this make and model, 1,768 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observed at: KVTN

## 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 20120727016222A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120727016222A), Jul 27, 2012: Andrews Joseph C Jr VAN RV-4, Valentine, NE, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. On July 27, 2012, a flight of four rv aircraft were returning home from the oshkosh air show on a leg from jackson, MN (kmjq) to Valentine, NE (vtn). The…
- [Accident 20120727016212A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120727016212A), Jul 27, 2012: Smith Harold H RV-6, Valentine, NE, Substantial damage. On July 27, 2012, a flight of four rv aircraft were returning home from the oshkosh air show on a leg from jackson, MN (kmjq) to Valentine, NE (kvtn). The…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84478. 4.4 MB in all.

- NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (Andrews) (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378138&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20(Andrews)-Redacted.PDF
- NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (Smith) (item 2, .PDF, 642 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378139&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20(Smith)-Redacted.PDF
- Harold Smith's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40379831&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Harold%20Smith%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Mike Salmon's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378106&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Mike%20Salmon%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Kelly Kilmer's Statement (item 5, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378225&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Kelly%20Kilmer%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Valentine Police Officer Larson's Statement (item 6, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378088&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Valentine%20Police%20Officer%20Larson%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - View to the north. Airplanes were landing to the south on runway 14. N122JA is at left, N755HS is at right. (item 7, .PDF, 738 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378485&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20View%20to%20the%20north.%20Airplanes%20were%20landing%20to%20the%20south%20on%20runway%2014.%20N122JA%20is%20at%20left,%20N755HS%20is%20at%20right.-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - View to the west at intersection of runways 14-32 and 03-21. N755HS is at left, N122JA is at right. (item 8, .PDF, 667 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40378487&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20View%20to%20the%20west%20at%20intersection%20of%20runways%2014-32%20and%2003-21.%20N755HS%20is%20at%20left,%20N122JA%20is%20at%20right.-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.

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