CHI07LA005

NTSB accident investigation · Burkhart Grob G103 · Lake Village, IN · October 8, 2006

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 8, 2006, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Lake Village, IN
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N4425YBurkhart Grob G103N39714Waco UPF7
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 29, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA - FSDO
FAA report
20061008026692A
Case key
64825

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

Inadequate visual lookout by the pilot. A factor associated with the accident was that neither airplane was equipped with communications equipment.

Inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of the other aircraft. A factor associated with the accident was that neither airplane was equipped with communications equipment.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Object - aircraft moving on ground
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Communications equipment - not availableFactor
Evasive maneuver - attemptedPilot in command
On ground/water collision with objectTakeoff - roll/run
Object - aircraft moving on ground
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Communications equipment - not availableFactor
Evasive maneuver - attemptedPilot of other aircraft

Analysis

The glider (N4425Y) was involved in a ground collision with a Waco (N39714) while landing at an uncontrolled airstrip. The glider pilot reported that he had landed on runway 36L (2,480 foot by 150 foot grass runway) and the Waco was taking off on runway 18R when the accident occurred. Neither of the airplanes were equipped with radios. According to the glider pilot, he saw the Waco taxiing on the runway while he was in the traffic pattern to land. He reported that he was not aware that the Waco was taking off until he saw the airplane during his landing roll. The glider pilot reported he tried to avoid the collision, but due to his reduced airspeed "the maneuver was ineffective." The pilot of the Waco reproted that he did not see the glider and that the airplanes collided when he was approximately 300 feet into his takeoff roll. The outboard 4 feet of the glider's right wing was severed during the collision and the lower right wing of the Waco sustained minor damage.

The glider (N4425Y) was involved in a ground collision with a Waco (N39714) while landing at an uncontrolled airstrip. The glider pilot reported he that had landed on runway 36L (2,480 foot by 150 foot grass runway) and the Waco was taking off on runway 18R when the accident occurred. Neither of the airplanes were equipped with radios. According to the glider pilot, he saw the Waco taxiing on the runway while he was in the traffic pattern to land. He reported that he was not aware that the Waco was taking off until he saw the airplane during his landing roll. The glider pilot reported he tried to avoid the collision, but due to his reduced airspeed "the maneuver was ineffective." The pilot of the Waco reproted that he did not see the glider and that the airplanes collided when he was approximately 300 feet into his takeoff roll. The outboard 4 feet of the glider's right wing was severed during the collision and the lower right wing of the Waco sustained minor damage.

Factual narrative

The glider (N4425Y) was involved in a ground collision with a Waco (N39714) while landing at an uncontrolled airstrip. The glider pilot reported that he had landed on runway 36L (2,480 foot by 150 foot grass runway) and the Waco was taking off on runway 18R when the accident occurred. Neither of the airplanes were equipped with radios. According to the glider pilot, he saw the Waco taxiing on the runway while he was in the traffic pattern to land. He reported that he was not aware that the Waco was taking off until he saw the airplane during his landing roll. The glider pilot reported he tried to avoid the collision, but due to his reduced airspeed "the maneuver was ineffective." The pilot of the Waco reproted that he did not see the glider and that the airplanes collided when he was approximately 300 feet into his takeoff roll. The outboard 4 feet of the glider's right wing was severed during the collision and the lower right wing of the Waco sustained minor damage.

The glider (N4425Y) was involved in a ground collision with a Waco (N39714) while landing at an uncontrolled airstrip. The glider pilot reported that he had landed on runway 36L (2,480 foot by 150 foot grass runway) and the Waco was taking off on runway 18R when the accident occurred. Neither of the airplanes were equipped with radios. According to the glider pilot, he saw the Waco taxiing on the runway while he was in the traffic pattern to land. He reported that he was not aware that the Waco was taking off until he saw the airplane during his landing roll. The glider pilot reported he tried to avoid the collision, but due to his reduced airspeed "the maneuver was ineffective." The pilot of the Waco reproted that he did not see the glider and that the airplanes collided when he was approximately 300 feet into his takeoff roll. The outboard 4 feet of the glider's right wing was severed during the collision and the lower right wing of the Waco sustained minor damage.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N4425Y
Reported as
Burkhart Grob G103
Category
Glider
Serial number
3820
Engine
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Randy R. Wise
Registered owner
Atlantis Soaring Society
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
C98
Destination
C98
Airport
C98 · Lake Village, runway 36L, 2,480 × 150 ft, grass/turf

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
N39714
Reported as
Waco UPF7
Category
Airplane
Serial number
5847
Engine
Continental W670, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
William A. Hatcher
Registered owner
George Hays
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
Lake Village, IN
Airport
C98 · Lake Village, runway 18, 2,480 × 150 ft, grass/turf

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 N4425Y
Age
54
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Flight hours
320 total · 32 in this make and model · 190 as pilot in command
Role
Pilot, aircraft N39714
Age
66
Injuries
None
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
5,595 total · 8 in this make and model · 5,439 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 19 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.