# NTSB ERA09TA466: Cessna 180, N1044Y, Spartanburg, SC, August 15, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report - Date: August 15, 2009, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Spartanburg, SC - Coordinates: 34.909442, -81.953887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9094&lon=-81.9539&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74538 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09TA466 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74538/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74538 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09TA466 ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The Cessna pilot's inadequate visual lookout. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Beech J35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=1151522), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 180, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072602), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Standing-engine(s) operating: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Beech J35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1151522), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A tailwheel-equipped Cessna 180 had landed and was taxiing back to the hangar area following a local aerial observation flight. A Beech J35 was parked near the edge of the ramp area, performing an extended run-up prior to departing on a brief local flight. As the Cessna approached the intersection of the taxiway and the ramp area where the Beech was parked, the Cessna struck the Beech. The propellers from both airplanes contacted the left wings of the opposite airplanes. The Cessna pilot shut down the engine, exited the airplane, and saw that his airplane's propeller had torn into the Beech's left wing fuel tank. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On August 15, 2008, about 1530 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 180, N1044Y, operated by the South Carolina Forestry Commission, was substantially damaged when it struck a standing Beech J35, N4398D, while taxiing at Spartanburg Downtown Memorial Airport (SPA), Spartanburg, South Carolina. The certificated airline transport pilot of the Cessna, and the certificated commercial pilot of the Beech, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The Cessna was operating on a company visual flight rules flight plan for the public use aerial observation flight. The Beech was not operating on a flight plan for the local personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna, following an uneventful 2.5 hour local aerial observation flight, he was returning to the departure airport. The pilot announced his position and intentions about 5 miles from the airport, and as he neared the airport, he heard glider traffic communications on the radio. About 2 miles from the airport, the tow master of the glider operations advised the pilot that glider winch operations were in progress. The Cessna subsequently landed, and taxied off the runway toward the hangar area. The pilot continued along the taxiway, looking out of the side windows as he taxied. When he turned right onto a taxiway that led directly to the hangar area, he felt a "thump" and saw a man's face through his left window. He immediately shut down the engine, exited the airplane, and saw that the Cessna's propeller had torn into the Beech's left wing fuel tank. The Beech pilot then exited his airplane without incident. According to the pilot of the Beech, he had just completed changing the oil in the airplane, and he was performing an extended run-up prior to departing on a brief local flight. He was parked near the edge of the ramp area, and believed that sufficient room was available for airplanes to exit the ramp or taxiway without difficulty. About 5 minutes into the engine run, the Beech pilot noticed a "tail dragger coming down the taxiway fairly fast." As the Cessna approached the intersection of the taxiway and the ramp area where the Beech was parked, the Cessna "came whipping around the corner" and struck the Beech. The propellers from both airplanes contacted the left wings of the opposite airplanes. The pilot of the Cessna held an airline transport pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multiengine land, and instrument airplane. He reported 17,000 total hours of flight experience, 10,000 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model. The weather conditions reported at SPA, at 1535, included winds from 070 degrees at 4 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 4,300 feet, and scattered clouds at 7,000 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A) states, "Since atailwheel-type airplane rests on the tailwheel as well as the main landing wheels, it assumes a nose-high attitude when on the ground…Consequently, objects directly ahead of the airplane are difficult, if not impossible, to see. To observe and avoid colliding with any objects or hazardous surface conditions, the pilot should alternately turn the nose from one side to the other – that is, zigzag, or make a series of short S-turns while taxiing forward." ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N1044Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1044Y-2011-11-02), registration cancelled 2011-11-02, S/N 32833 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 180 - Registry model: [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180) (registry code 2072602) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32833 - Airframe hours: 10118 - Engines: Teledyne Continental Motors O-470-17F 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Public aircraft - state, Public use - Operator: South Carolina Forestry Commission - Registered owner: Usda Forest Service Fepp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 16, 2008 - Departed: SPA, Spartanburg, SC - Destination: SPA, Spartanburg, SC - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: SPA, Spartansburg Downtown Mem. Apt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N4398D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4398D-2013-04-10), registration cancelled 2013-04-10, S/N D-5565, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH J35 - Registry model: [Beech J35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-j35) (registry code 1151522) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-5565 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-470 SERIES 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kpiyo LLC - Registered owner: Kpiyo LLC - Departed: SPA, Spartanburg, SC - Destination: SPA, Spartanburg, SC - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: SPA, Spartansburg Downtown Mem. Apt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N1044Y; age 54; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 10, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 17,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model, 16,700 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N4398D; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 705 total, 560 in this make and model, 575 as pilot in command, 104 in the last 90 days, 33 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: SPA, 1 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090815054051A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090815054051A), Aug 15, 2009: Cessna 180, Spartanburg, SC, Substantial damage. This report regenerated - could not locate original. Pilot landed and was taxing aircraft to hangar when aircraft ran into another aircraft that was stopped… - [Accident 20090815857221A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090815857221A), Aug 15, 2009: Beech J35, Spartanburg, SC, Substantial damage. Pilot was running aircraft engine in ramp area after completion of engine oil change. Pilot had intentions of flying aircraft in local flight area. While… ## Other investigations on N1044Y (1) 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 NYC08TA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08TA130), Mar 11, 2008: Cessna 180 (N1044Y), Spartanburg, SC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's encounter with wake turbulence during approach as a result of his inadequate in-flight planning. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74538. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N1044Y (item 1, .PDF, 437 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319343&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20N1044Y-Redacted.PDF - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - N4398D (item 2, .PDF, 638 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319344&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20N4398D-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement - N4398D (item 3, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319345&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20-%20N4398D-Master.PDF 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.