CHI98LA008

NTSB accident investigation · Boeing B75N1 · Cloverdale, IN · October 4, 1997

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 4, 1997, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
Place
Cloverdale, IN
Injuries
4 uninjured
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N75511Boeing B75N1N9577HWaco CTO
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 29, 1998
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
10759

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 Boeing pilot failed to identify the Waco airplane on the runway before initiating a takeoff. Factors related to the accident were: the restricted forward visibility of both pilots due to the tailwheel configurations of both airplanes.

the Boeing pilot failed to identify the Waco airplane on the runway before initiating a takeoff. Factors related to the accident were: the restricted forward visibility of both pilots due to the tailwheel configurations of both airplanes.

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.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Takeoff - roll/run
Visual lookout - restrictedPilot of other aircraftFactor
Visual lookout - restrictedPilot in commandFactor
Identification of aircraft visually - not obtainedPilot in commandCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - from landing
Visual lookout - restrictedPilot in commandFactor
Visual lookout - restrictedPilot of other aircraftFactor
Identification of aircraft visually - not obtainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The pilot of Waco CTO, NC9577H, had landed and was back taxing on runway 27, and the pilot of Boeing B75N1, N75511, was taking off on runway 27, when a collision of the airplanes occurred. The pilot of NC9577H reported that about half way down the runway, he made an S-turn, and as he was centering the airplane, he heard an engine noise and saw N75511 just before impact. The pilot of N75511 reported that he did not see anyone on the runway or in the traffic pattern before initiating his takeoff. N75511 was equipped with a radio, but NC9577H was not.

The pilot of Waco CTO, NC9577H, had landed and was back taxing on runway 27, and the pilot of Boeing B75N1, N75511, was taking off on runway 27, when a collision of the airplanes occurred. The pilot of NC9577H reported that about half way down the runway, he made an S-turn, and as he was centering the airplane, he heard an engine noise and saw N75511 just before impact. The pilot of N75511 reported that he did not see anyone on the runway or in the traffic pattern before initiating his takeoff. N75511 was equipped with a radio, but NC9577H was not.

Factual narrative

See Narrative CHI-98-L-A008A

On October 4, 1997, at 1600 eastern standard time, a Boeing B75N1, N75511, operated by an Airline Transport rated pilot collided with a Waco CTO, NC9577H, operated by a private pilot. The collision occurred as N75511 was taking off on runway 27 and NC9577H was back taxiing on the same runway at Pam's Place Airstrip in Cloverdale, Indiana. The pilot and passenger on N75511 were not injured nor was the pilot and passenger on NC9577H. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight plans were not filed for either airplane. Both airplanes were operating under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot of N75511 reported that he parked facing east in a parking area on the north side of the approach end of runway 27 where he boarded a passenger. He then made a right turn to the west and looked down the airstrip and did not see anyone. He then cleared final and base leg for traffic and without seeing anyone, he lined up on the airstrip for takeoff. He reported he advanced the throttle to full power and a few seconds later his left wing contacted NC9577H. He reported that his airplane ground looped to the left and came to rest heading north.

The pilot of NC9577H reported that after a local flight he returned to Pam's Place and landed on runway 27. After landing he turned the airplane to the east to back taxi on the airstrip to the hangar area. He reported that after using about 1,500' of the airstrip he made a S-turn to the south and back to the north. As he was turning back to center he heard an engine noise and saw N75511 just prior to impact. He reported that after the collision his airplane did not move.

The left wing of N75511 contacted the left side of NC9577H as they were moving in opposite directions when the collision took place. N75511 was equipped with a radio and NC9577H was not.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N75511
Reported as
Boeing B75N1
Category
Airplane
Serial number
75-7581
Airframe hours
4,703
Engine
Continental W-670, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
R&B Aerial Advertising
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 24, 1997 · 10 hours before
Departed
78I
Airport
5II0 · Pams Place, runway 27, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf
Registration
N9577H
Reported as
Waco CTO
Category
Airplane
Serial number
A-47
Airframe hours
440
Engine
Wright J6-7, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Thomas S. Lozier
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 11, 1997 · 42 hours before
Airport
5II0 · Pams Place, runway 27, 2,600 × 100 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 N75511
Age
61
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
28,000 total · 420 in this make and model · 22,001 as pilot in command · 9 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N9577H
Age
35
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
540 total · 440 in this make and model · 515 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 11 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
23,000 ft broken
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
IND, 25 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 2

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