- Date
- August 1, 1998, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC)
- Place
- Oshkosh, WI
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 2, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19980801046589A19980801019169A
- Case key
- 43631
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 pilot of the other airplane did not maintain proper clearance.
The pilot failed to maintain clearance from the other airplane while taxiing.
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 other airplane was taxiing for departure on a north-south taxiway for a departure from runway 18R. He reported that the ATIS advised all traffic to watch the flagmen for ATC instructions. The pilot reported that he was watching the flagman as instructed. The pilot reported, 'The flagman gave me a signal to stop as I approached the intersection, and then changed to the right turn signal. I started my right turn. The flagman gave me no indication that there was an aircraft in my path, or that I should do anything other than complete the turn.' He reported that he was about halfway through the turn when his propeller struck the right wingtip of the RV-6. He reported, 'I was confident that this area was clear because the flagman, with a clear view, directed me to make the turn.' The pilot of the RV-6 was not aware of the conflict until the Cessna's propeller hit the right wing and aileron of his airplane.
The pilot was taxiing for departure on a north-south taxiway for a departure from runway 18R. He reported that the ATIS advised all traffic to watch the flagmen for ATC instructions. The pilot reported that he was watching the flagman as instructed. The pilot reported, 'The flagman gave me a signal to stop as I approached the intersection, and then changed to the right turn signal. I started my right turn. The flagman gave me no indication that there was an aircraft in my path, or that I should do anything other than complete the turn.' He reported that he was about halfway through the turn when his propeller struck the right wingtip of the RV-6. He reported, 'I was confident that this area was clear because the flagman, with a clear view, directed me to make the turn.'
Factual narrative
See Narrative for accident CHI98LA297A.
On August 1, 1998, at 1840 central daylight time, a Cessna 180, N111WF, operated by Fletcher Aviation Inc., taxiied into the right wing of an experimental Preece VANS RV-6, N122BP. The RV-6 was number three holding short for takeoff from runway 18 at Oshkosh Municipal Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The Cessna 180 was turning on the taxiway when its propeller impacted the right wing of the RV-6. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The pilot was taxiing for departure on a north-south taxiway for a departure from runway 18R. He reported that the ATIS advised all traffic to watch the flagmen for ATC instructions. He reported that he saw an RV-6 taxi across the front of his airplane when he was about 400 to 500 feet from the intersection. The pilot reported that he was watching the flagman as instructed.
The pilot reported, "The flagman have me a signal to stop as I approached the intersection, and then changed to the right turn signal. I started my right turn. The flagman game me no indication that there was an aircraft in my path, or that I should do anything other than complete the turn." He reported that he was about halfway through the turn when his propeller struck the right wingtip of the RV-6. He reported, "I was confident that this area was clear because the flagman, with a clear view, directed me to make the turn."
The pilot reported that the Cessna 180, a tail wheel airplane, had a blind spot directly in front and to the right when piloting the airplane from the left seat.
The pilot of the RV-6 reported that he was not aware of the conflict until the Cessna's propeller hit the right wing and aileron of his airplane.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N111WF
- Reported as
- Cessna 180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 31243
- Airframe hours
- 4,714
- Engine
- Continental O-470-U, 225 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fletcher Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 14, 1997 · 40 hours before
- Destination
- 9WIG · Spring Prairie, WI
- Airport
- OSH · Oshkosh Whitman Regional
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
- N122BP
- Reported as
- Preece Vans RV-6
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 22912
- Airframe hours
- 40
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Bill Preece
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 14, 1998 · 40 hours before
- Destination
- GRB · Green Bay, WI
- Airport
- OSH · Oshkosh Whitman Regional
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 N111WF
- Age
- 53
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 6,000 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 5,500 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N122BP
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 8,500 total · 40 in this make and model · 7,500 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- OSH
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.