DFW08LA144

NTSB accident investigation · Stinson 108-3 · Roanoke, TX · May 15, 2008

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 15, 2008, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC)
Place
Roanoke, TX
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N6805MStinson 108-3N8295XPiper PA-28-161
Defining events
Takeoff: Runway incursion veh/AC/personLanding-flare/touchdown: Runway incursion veh/AC/person
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report January 29, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
68034

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The departing pilot's inadequate visual lookout resulting in his airplane colliding with the landing airplane. Contributing to the accident was the trees/visual obstructions along the runway's approach path.

The departing pilot's inadequate visual lookout. Contributing to the accident was the trees/visual obstructions along the runway’s approach path.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

N6805M · Stinson 108-3

Object/animal/substance: tree(s)Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationStinson 108-3: 3 casesAll aircraft: 933 casesProbable cause

N8295X · Piper PA-28-161

Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftPiper PA-28-161: 8 casesAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: tree(s)Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationPiper PA-28-161: 9 casesAll aircraft: 933 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

While landing, a low-wing airplane collided with a departing high-wing airplane. The high-wing airplane was on the takeoff roll and the low-wing airplane was in the landing flare when the collision occurred. Both airplanes came to rest upright on the runway with the low-wing airplane on top of the high-wing airplane. All three pilots were able to exit unassisted. The high-wing airplane was departing for a local flight and the low-wing airplane was on an instructional flight. The pilot of each airplane reported that they had transmitted their position/intentions on the common traffic control frequency (CTAF). In addition, the pilots reported not seeing the other airplane before the collision occurred. The runway's threshold was displaced 320-feet due to trees, which were approximately 50-feet tall, located just south and along the approach path. The pilot of each airplane reported that the trees contributing to the accident. According to 14 CFR 91.113, Right-of-way rules: Except water operations, "Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface, except that they shall not take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach."

While landing, a low-wing airplane collided with a departing high-wing airplane. The high-wing airplane was on the takeoff roll and the low-wing airplane was in the landing flare when the collision occurred. Both airplanes came to rest upright on the runway with the low-wing airplane on top of the high-wing airplane. All three pilots were able to exit unassisted. The high-wing airplane was departing for a local flight and the low-wing airplane was on an instructional flight. The pilot of each airplane reported that they had transmitted their position/intentions on the common traffic control frequency (CTAF). In addition, the pilots reported not seeing the other airplane before the collision occurred. The runway's threshold was displaced 320-feet due to trees, which were approximately 50-feet tall, located just south and along the approach path. The pilot of each airplane reported that the trees contributing to the accident. According to 14 CFR 91.113, Right-of-way rules: Except water operations, "Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface, except that they shall not take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach."

Factual narrative

On May 15, 2008, about 1415 central daylight time, a single-engine Stinson 108-3 high-wing airplane, N6805M, and a single-engine Piper PA-28-161 low-wing airplane, N8295X, collided at the Northwest Regional Airport (52F) in Roanoke, Texas. The Stinson was on the takeoff roll and the Piper was in the landing flare when the collision occurred. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, of the Stinson and the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot in the Piper were not injured. The Stinson was owned and operated by the pilot. The Piper was owned by RTJE Bach Enterprises LLC., of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and operated by US Aviation Group of Denton, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight plans were not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flights. The Stinson was being operated as a personal flight and the Piper as an instructional flight. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing of the Piper and the upper fuselage of the Stinson sustained structural damage. According to the pilot of the Stinson, after looking for approaching traffic he announcing his intentions, via the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), to depart runway 35. He then taxied onto runway 35 and began his takeoff roll. As the airplane approached takeoff speed the pilot heard a "loud noise" and the airplane stopped moving. Not knowing what had happened, the pilot elected to exit the airplane. Once out of the airplane the pilot observed the Piper resting on top of his Stinson. The CFI, who was providing instruction in the Piper, reported that he and his student had completed four touch-and-go maneuvers and were performing the fifth when the accident occurred. While abeam the runway numbers, on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 35, the instructor reduced the engine power to idle and asked the student to perform a simulated engine out procedure. While on final approach the instructor added engine power to correct for the student's low approach. Once over the runway the student flared for landing. During the flare the instructor heard a "thud" and observed that the airplane was not flying and was not on the ground. It was then that he realized they had landed on top of the Stinson. The instructor reported that the student pilot had transmitted position reports for the downwind, base, and final legs of the traffic pattern. The instructor further reported, "At no time during the flight did I see the other aircraft." Runway 35 was a 3,500-foot by 40-foot asphalt runway. The runway's threshold was displaced 320-feet due to trees, that were approximately 50-feet tall, located south and along the approach path. The pilot of each airplane reported that the trees contributing to the accident. According to 14 CFR 91.113, Right-of-way rules: Except water operations, "Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface,except that they shall not take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach."

On May 15, 2008, about 1415 central daylight time, a single-engine Stinson 108-3 high-wing airplane, N6805M, and a single-engine Piper PA-28-161 low-wing airplane, N8295X, collided at the Northwest Regional Airport (52F) in Roanoke, Texas. The Stinson was on the takeoff roll and the Piper was in the landing flare when the collision occurred. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, of the Stinson and the certified flight instructor (CFI) and student pilot in the Piper were not injured. The Stinson was owned and operated by the pilot. The Piper was owned by RTJE Bach Enterprises LLC., of Waukesha, Wisconsin, and operated by US Aviation Group of Denton, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight plans were not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flights. The Stinson was being operated as a personal flight and the Piper as an instructional flight. Photographs provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the left wing of the Piper and the upper fuselage of the Stinson sustained structural damage. According to the pilot of the Stinson, after looking for approaching traffic he announcing his intentions, via the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), to depart runway 35. He then taxied onto runway 35 and began his takeoff roll. As the airplane approached takeoff speed the pilot heard a "loud noise" and the airplane stopped moving. Not knowing what had happened, the pilot elected to exit the airplane. Once out of the airplane the pilot observed the Piper resting on top of his Stinson. The CFI, who was providing instruction in the Piper, reported that he and his student had completed four touch-and-go maneuvers and were performing the fifth when the accident occurred. While abeam the runway numbers, on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 35, the instructor reduced the engine power to idle and asked the student to perform a simulated engine out procedure. While on final approach the instructor added engine power to correct for the student's low approach. Once over the runway the student flared for landing. During the flare the instructor heard a "thud" and observed that the airplane was not flying and was not on the ground. It was then that he realized they had landed on top of the Stinson. The instructor reported that the student pilot had transmitted position reports for the downwind, base, and final legs of the traffic pattern. The instructor further reported, "At no time during the flight did I see the other aircraft." Runway 35 was a 3,500-foot by 40-foot asphalt runway. The runway's threshold was displaced 320-feet due to trees, that were approximately 50-feet tall, located south and along the approach path. The pilot of each airplane reported that the trees contributing to the accident. According to 14 CFR 91.113, Right-of-way rules: Except water operations, "Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft inflight or operating on the surface, except that they shall not take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach."

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N6805M
Reported as
Stinson 108-3
Category
Airplane
Serial number
108-4805
Airframe hours
1,293
Engine
Franklin PZL6A350-C1R, 220 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · February 22, 2008
Departed
52F · Roanoke, TX
Destination
Roanoke, TX
Airport
52F · Northwest Regional Airport, runway 35, 3,500 × 40 ft, asphalt

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
N8295X
Reported as
Piper PA-28-161
Category
Airplane
Serial number
28-8116083
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
US Aviation Group
Registered owner
Rtje Bach Enterprises LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · December 29, 2007
Departed
DTO · Denton, TX
Destination
52F · Roanoke, TX
Airport
52F · Northwest Regional Airport, runway 35, 3,500 × 40 ft, asphalt

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 · 3

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N6805M
Age
65
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 1, 2007
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,837 total · 450 in this make and model · 1,837 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Role
Flight instructor, aircraft N8295X
Age
23
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 3, 2007
Seat
Right
Flight hours
654 total · 12 in this make and model · 510 as pilot in command · 201 in the last 90 days · 58 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Student pilot, aircraft N8295X
Age
60
Injuries
None
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
174 total · 172 in this make and model · 10 as pilot in command · 17 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
360° at 10 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
29.60 inHg

Docket · 6

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 7, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 11.2 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 2

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