DEN07LA074

NTSB accident investigation · North American SNJ-5 · Pueblo, CO · March 13, 2007

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 13, 2007, 16:15 local (22:15 UTC)
Place
Pueblo, CO
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N12KYNorth American SNJ-5N39810Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 28, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
Case key
65466

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 North American SNJ-5 warbird's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing, resulting in an on-ground collision with the stationary Grob motor glider.

The pilot of the North American SNJ-5 warbird's inadequate visual lookout while taxiing, resulting in an on-ground collision with the stationary Grob motor glider.

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)Taxi
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Identification of aircraft visually - not attainedPilot in command
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Identification of aircraft visually - not attainedPilot of other aircraft

Analysis

A North American SNJ-5 tailwheel warbird airplane, was taxiing on the ramp after landing. The pilot was using S-turns as he taxied, in an attempt to see ahead of the airplane's large engine and cowling. While taxiing, the pilot of the warbird failed to see a stationary and occupied motor glider. The warbird's right wheel ran over the wing of the motor glider, resulting in minor damage to the warbird, and substantial damage to the motor glider.

A North American SNJ-5 tailwheel warbird airplane, was taxiing on the ramp after landing. The pilot was using S-turns as he taxied, in an attempt to see ahead of the airplane's large engine and cowling. While taxiing, the pilot of the warbird failed to see a stationary and occupied motor glider. The warbird's right wheel ran over the wing of the motor glider, resulting in minor damage to the warbird, and substantial damage to the motor glider.

Factual narrative

See narrative for DEN07LA074A.

On March 13, 2007 approximately 1615 mountain daylight time, a North American SNJ-5, N12KY, piloted by an airline transport certificated pilot, sustained minor damage when it collided with a Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir, N39810, piloted by a commercial pilot, while taxiing from landing at Pueblo Memorial Airport (PUB), Pueblo, Colorado. The Grob, which was stationary but with its engine running, was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both flights were personal and were being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilots on board both airplanes were not injured. The flight of the SNJ-5 originated at 1445 from Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado. The flight of the Grob had not yet originated.

According to the pilot of the SNJ-5, he landed on runway 8L. He exited the runway on taxiway Echo, merged onto taxiway Foxtrot, and taxied south across runway 8R and onto the ramp. From there, he taxied southwest towards taxiway Alpha and some private hangars, located in the southwest corner of the ramp. The pilot used S-turns as he taxied. The SNJ-5's right wheel ran over the right wing of the Grob. The SNJ-5 sustained minor damage to its right wing tip, leading edge and right aileron.

According to the pilot of the Grob, he had stopped and was obtaining taxi clearance and ATIS information when the SNJ-5's main landing gear rolled over his right wing. Damage to the Grob included a broken right wing spar. The outer portion of the right wing and the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer were crushed. The wooden propeller of the motor glider was also damaged.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N12KY
Reported as
North American SNJ-5
Category
Airplane
Serial number
90995
Airframe hours
5,208
Engine
Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Richard Wells
Registered owner
North American War Birds, LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · November 1, 2006 · 14 hours before
Departed
APA · Englewood, CO
Destination
PUB · Pueblo, CO
Airport
PUB · Pueblo Municipal

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
N39810
Reported as
Burkhart Grob Flugzeugbau G103 Twin Astir
Category
Airplane
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Clifford L. Hoyle
Departed
Pueblo, CO
Airport
PUB · Pueblo Municipal

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 N12KY
Age
60
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 1, 2007
Seat
Front
Flight hours
6,184 total · 155 in this make and model · 4,932 as pilot in command · 68 in the last 90 days · 17 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N39810
Injuries
None

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
110° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 21 °F
Altimeter
29.96 inHg
Observed at
PUB

FAA reports on this event · 2

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

Other investigations on N12KY · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.