- Date
- March 15, 2016, 15:50 local (20:50 UTC)
- Place
- Midland, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi: Ground collisionTaxi: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 3, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA reports
- 20160315007322A20160315008742A
- Case key
- 92849
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
The Goodyear pilot did not see and avoid the Nakajima ahead on the taxiway.
Findings · 9
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
N8280K · Nakajima A6M2 Model 21
N209TW · Goodyear FG1D
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
N8280K · Nakajima A6M2 Model 21
N209TW · Goodyear FG1D
Analysis
The six-ship formation of vintage World War II airplanes had completed their run-ups on the taxiway and were preparing for departure. A departure clearance was received from air traffic control and the six-ship formation proceeded to the runway for takeoff. The Goodyear "Corsair" airplane was sixth in formation and trailing the Nakajima "Zero" airplane. These tailwheel airplanes required the pilots to taxi in an S-turn pattern due to the limited forward visibility. As the Corsair pilot proceeded with the S-turn taxi to the runway, the Corsair overtook the Zero and collided with its tail. The Zero spun right about 270 degrees and came to rest. The Corsair stopped quickly and its propeller impacted the taxiway. The Zero sustained substantial damage to the empennage and the Corsair sustained minor damage. The pilots conducted an accident debrief and determined that a lack of "vigilance" was to blame. Both pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframes or engines that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The six-ship formation of vintage World War II airplanes had completed their run-ups on the taxiway and were preparing for departure. A departure clearance was received from air traffic control and the six-ship formation proceeded to the runway for takeoff. The Goodyear "Corsair" airplane was sixth in formation and trailing the Nakajima "Zero" airplane. These tailwheel airplanes required the pilots to taxi in an S-turn pattern due to the limited forward visibility. As the Corsair pilot proceeded with the S-turn taxi to the runway, the Corsair overtook the Zero and collided with its tail. The Zero spun right about 270 degrees and came to rest. The Corsair stopped quickly and its propeller impacted the taxiway. The Zero sustained substantial damage to the empennage and the Corsair sustained minor damage. The pilots conducted an accident debrief and determined that a lack of "vigilance" was to blame. Both pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframes or engines that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N8280K
- Reported as
- Nakajima A6M2 Model 21
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1498
- Built
- 1941
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R-1830-75, 1,350 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 9, 2015
- Departed
- MAF · Midland, TX
- Destination
- ABQ · Albuquerque, NM
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- MAF · Midland Intl, runway 34L, 9,501 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
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
- N209TW
- Reported as
- Goodyear FG1D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 92489
- Built
- 1945
- Airframe hours
- 1,963
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R-2800, 2,000 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 9, 2015
- Departed
- MAF · Midland, TX
- Destination
- ABQ · Albuquerque, NM
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- MAF · Midland Intl
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N8280K
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 7, 2015
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 30,000 total · 260 in this make and model · 28,000 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N209TW
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 1, 2015
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 22,081 total · 251 in this make and model · 21,066 as pilot in command · 28 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 18 knots, gusting 37
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- KMAF, 1 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 7, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 6.7 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.