# NTSB CHI93LA294: North American F-51, N6327T, Fond Du Lac, WI, July 28, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 1993, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Fond Du Lac, WI - Coordinates: 43.79021, -88.389289 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7902&lon=-88.3893&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9261 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI93LA294 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9261/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI93LA294 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) the pilot-in-command of the F-51's diverted attention and failure to maintain a visual outlook. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) the pilot-in-command of the F51's diverted attention and failure to maintain a visual outlook. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - object - aircraft moving on ground - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - from landing - object - aircraft moving on ground - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) WHILE TAXIING IN FROM LANDING THE PILOT OF THE F-51 WAS UNABLE TO MAKE NORMAL 'S' TURNS DUE TO AIRPLANES PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAXIWAY. WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT THE CONTROL TOWER HE CONTINUED TO TAXI FORWARD. THE COMMANDER 114B WAS TAXIING IN FRONT OF THE F-51 AND WHILE THE PILOT OF THE F- 51'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED INSIDE THE AIRPLANE THE F-51 OVERTOOK THE COMMANDER 114B AND COLLIDED WITH THE TAIL OF THE COMMANDER 114B. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) WHILE TAXIING IN FROM LANDING THE PILOT OF THE F-51 WAS UNABLE TO MAKE NORMAL 'S' TURNS DUE TO AIRPLANES PARKED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE TAXIWAY. WHILE HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO CONTACT THE CONTROL TOWER HE CONTINUED TO TAXI FORWARD. A COMMANDER 114B WAS TAXIING IN FRONT OF THE F-51 AND WHILE THE PILOT OF THE F-51'S ATTENTION WAS DIVERTED INSIDE THE AIRPLANE THE F-51 OVERTOOK THE COMMANDER 114B AND COLLIDED WITH THE TAIL OF THE COMMANDER 114B. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See CHI93LA294A narrative. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On July 28, 1993, at 1840 central daylight time, a North American F-51, N6327T, registered to Richard P. James of Fennimore, Wisconsin, collided with an Aero Commander 114B, N579CA, registered to Commander Aircraft Company of Bethany, Oklahoma, while taxiing from landing on runway 27 at Fond Du Lac County Airport, Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin. The F-51 received minor damage while the 114B sustained substantial damage. The pilot of the F-51 and the pilot and three passengers in the 114B reported no injuries. Both airplanes were operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The F-51 had last departed Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, at 1820. The Commander 114B had last departed Saint Paul, Minnesota, at 1700. This accident occurred during the annual Experimental Aircraft Association's convention at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The arrivals and departures at Fond Du Lac County Airport were controlled by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporary air traffic control tower; however, ground operations were being handled by flagmen on the taxiways. According to the statement by the pilot of the F-51, after landing on runway 27 and taxiing off the runway at the west end, he began to taxi eastbound behind approximately three other airplanes. He stated that airplanes were parked on both sides of the taxiway and prevented him from making normal S-turns. Due to the difficulty in maintaining a visual outlook ahead of the F-51, he decided to contact the tower by radio for assistance. The airplane continued to move forward while his attention was diverted to communicating on the radio and the F-51 collided with the tail of the Aero Commander 114B. The pilot of the Aero Commander 114B stated he landed on runway 27. After taxing off the runway onto the taxiway at center field, the flagman waved him to taxi in front of the F-51. He stated that as he taxied eastbound the F-51 overtook his airplane and the propeller of the F-51 collided with the tail of the Aero Commander 114B. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N6327T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6327T-2007-12-01), registration cancelled 2007-12-01, S/N 44-74417A, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN F-51 - Registry model: [North American F-51D](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-f-51d) (registry code 6402309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pkrd-Roll V1650 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pkrd-roll-v1650-series) (registry code 49001, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 44-74417A - Engines: MERLIN V-1650-9A 1650 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James, Richard P. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 28, 1993, 25 hours before - Departed: 61C, FT. ATKINSON, WI - Airport: FLD, Fond Du Lac County ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N579CA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N579CA), registered now, S/N 14579, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Commander 114B - Registry model: [Commander 114-B](https://openairdocs.org/model/commander-114-b) (registry code 0145001) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14579 - Airframe hours: 222 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-T4B526 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Commander Aircraft Company - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: D97, SO. ST. PAUL, MN - Airport: FLD, Fond Du Lac County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N6327T; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command - Pilot, aircraft N579CA; age 56; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 3,395 total, 96 in this make and model, 3,395 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken ## 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 19930728025932A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930728025932A), Jul 28, 1993: Namer F51D, Fond Du Lac, WI, Minor damage. Taxiing from landing unable s turns close quarters. Struck plane taxiing accross his path. Damaged aircraft tail. - [Accident 19930728025931A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930728025931A), Jul 28, 1993: Gulstm 114B, Fond Du Lac, WI, Substantial damage. During taxi on ramp was overtaken by blind P51. Prop chopped off tail. P51 unable s turn due parked aircraft. ## Other investigations on N6327T (2) 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. - [NTSB CHI05FA197](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05FA197), Jul 26, 2005: North American F-51D (N6327T), Malone, WI, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot not maintaining aircraft control and clearance from terrain for undetermined reasons during a low level maneuver. - [NTSB CHI67F0183](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI67F0183), Aug 4, 1966: N.American P-51D (N6327T), Fort Wayne, IN, substantial damage 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.