- Date
- May 24, 1990, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- Indianapolis, IN
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 15, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19900524017502A19900524017501A
- Case key
- 14668
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 other pilot's inadequate visual lookout during ground taxi operations.
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during ground taxi operations. The natural nose high attitude of the taildragger restricted the pilot's forward visibiltiy, and was a contributing factor in this accident.
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.
Analysis
The pilot of the (conventional gear) biplane reported that he looked for traffic on the taxiway before taxiing to reposition his aircraft on the airport. He stated that he 'did not see any aircraft in view....proceeded to taxi and saw the wing of the other aircraft over my nose....'the taxiing aircraft impacted the Cessna C152, which was parked on the ramp with the engine running in preparation for a local instructional flight. The nose high attitude of the taildragger restricted the taxiing pilot's visibility.
The pilot of the (conventional gear) biplane reported that he looked for traffic on the taxiway before taxiing to reposition his aircraft on the airport. He stated that he 'did not see any aircraft in view....proceeded to taxi and saw the wing of the other aircraft over my nose.... 'The taxiing aircraft impacted the Cessna C152, which was parked on the ramp with the engine running in preparation for a local instructional flight. The nose high attitude of the taildragger restricted the taxiing pilot's visibility.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N85RC
- Reported as
- Cecil, Richard C. Starduster II (STARDUSTER)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 815
- Airframe hours
- 143
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 91
- Operator
- Cecil, Richard C.
- Registered owner
- Cecil, Richard C
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · February 28, 1990 · 39 hours before
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 3SY · Speedway
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
- N2927X
- Reported as
- Cessna C152 II
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15284251
- Airframe hours
- 295
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Indiana Bellanca, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Jerry Mashino
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 4, 1990 · 65 hours before
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 3SY · Speedway
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 N85RC
- Age
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 3,000 total · 38 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N2927X
- Age
- 21
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 850 total · 300 in this make and model · 800 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 16 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 46 °F
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.