- Date
- November 6, 2011, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Abingdon, VA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Defining events
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/landLanding: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 18, 2012
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA reports
- 20111106028772A20111106028632A
- Case key
- 82463
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 failure of the Pitts pilot to see and avoid the RV-6 that had landed ahead. Contributing to the accident was the Pitts pilot's inability to hear the RV-6 pilot's radio calls due to the lack of a radio in the Pitts.
The failure of the Pitts pilot to see and avoid the RV-6 that had landed ahead. Contributing to the accident was the Pitts pilot's inability to hear the RV-6 pilot's radio calls due to the lack of a radio in the Pitts.
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.
N62HS · Sigmon Harvey E Vans RV 6
N177CD · Aviat S-2C
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.
N62HS · Sigmon Harvey E Vans RV 6
N177CD · Aviat S-2C
Analysis
The RV-6 was equipped with a radio and the Pitts S-2C was not. Both airplanes were in the airport traffic pattern after completing a local flight, and the pilots were flying a visual approach to runway 24. The pilot of the RV-6 flew a tighter traffic pattern and made radio calls. The pilot of the Pitts flew a wider traffic pattern and did not see the RV-6 ahead and below. As the airplanes landed nearly simultaneously on runway 24, the propeller of the Pitts contacted and partially separated the empennage of the RV-6. The recorded weather at the airport about the time of the accident included clear skies, visibility of 10 miles, and wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots.
The RV-6 was equipped with a radio and the Pitts S-2C was not. Both airplanes were in the airport traffic pattern after completing a local flight, and the pilots were flying a visual approach to runway 24. The pilot of the RV-6 flew a tighter traffic pattern and made radio calls. The pilot of the Pitts flew a wider traffic pattern and did not see the RV-6 ahead and below. As the airplanes landed nearly simultaneously on runway 24, the propeller of the Pitts contacted and partially separated the empennage of the RV-6. The recorded weather at the airport, about the time of the accident, included clear skies, visibility of 10 miles, and wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots.
Factual narrative
On November 6, 2011, about 1500 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built RV-6, N62HS, and an Aviat S-2C (Pitts) collided while landing at Virginia Highlands Airport (VJI), Abingdon, Virginia. The RV-6 was substantially damaged and the Pitts sustained minor damage. The certificated private pilot onboard the RV-6 and the certificated airline transport pilot onboard the Pitts were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for the local flights. The personal flights were conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed both pilots. They reported that the RV-6 was equipped with a radio and the Pitts was not. Both airplanes were in the airport traffic pattern after completing a local flight, and the pilots were flying a visual approach to runway 24. The pilot of the RV-6 flew a "tighter" traffic pattern and made radio calls. The pilot of the Pitts flew a wider traffic pattern and did not see the RV-6 ahead and below. As the airplanes landed nearly simultaneously on runway 24, the propeller of the Pitts contacted and partially separated the empennage of the RV-6. The FAA inspector added that the pilots did not report the accident and he learned about it during routine surveillance of the airport. The accident was reported to the NTSB on December 5, 2011. According to their written reports, the pilot of the RV-6 stated that during landing rollout, the Pitts landed in to the rear of his airplane. The pilot of the Pitts stated that during landing rollout, as his airplane decelerated normally to 10 to 15 mph, he felt a bump, heard the propeller hit something, and shut the engine down. The recorded weather at VJI, at 1455, included clear skies, visibility 10 miles, and wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots.
On November 6, 2011, about 1500 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built RV-6, N62HS, and an Aviat S-2C (Pitts) collided while landing at Virginia Highlands Airport (VJI), Abingdon, Virginia. The RV-6 was substantially damaged and the Pitts sustained minor damage. The certificated private pilot onboard the RV-6 and the certificated airline transport pilot onboard the Pitts were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed for the local flights. The personal flights were conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed both pilots. They reported that the RV-6 was equipped with a radio and the Pitts was not. Both airplanes were in the airport traffic pattern after completing a local flight, and the pilots were flying a visual approach to runway 24. The pilot of the RV-6 flew a "tighter" traffic pattern and made radio calls. The pilot of the Pitts flew a wider traffic pattern and did not see the RV-6 ahead and below. As the airplanes landed nearly simultaneously on runway 24, the propeller of the Pitts contacted and partially separated the empennage of the RV-6. The FAA inspector added that the pilots did not report the accident and he learned about it during routine surveillance of the airport. The accident was reported to the NTSB on December 5, 2011. According to their written reports, the pilot of the RV-6 stated that during landing rollout, the Pitts landed in to the rear of his airplane. The pilot of the Pitts stated that during landing rollout, as his airplane decelerated normally to 10 to 15 mph, he felt a bump, heard the propeller hit something, and shut the engine down. The recorded weather at VJI, at 1455, included clear skies, visibility 10 miles, and wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N62HS
- Reported as
- Sigmon Harvey E Vans RV 6
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 20198
- Airframe hours
- 1,080
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Seats Frank R
- Registered owner
- Seats Frank R
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · June 1, 2011 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- VJI · Abingdon, VA
- Destination
- VJI · Abingdon, VA
- Airport
- VJI · Virginia Highlands, runway 24, 4,471 × 75 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
- N177CD
- Reported as
- Aviat S-2C
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 6069
- Airframe hours
- 400
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- White John R
- Registered owner
- White John R
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 20, 2011 · 100 hours before
- Departed
- VJI · Abingdon, VA
- Destination
- VJI · Abingdon, VA
- Airport
- VJI · Virginia Highlands, runway 24, 4,471 × 75 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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N62HS
- Age
- 70
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 14, 2011
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,460 total · 120 in this make and model · 24 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N177CD
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 5, 2011
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 29,000 total · 350 in this make and model · 24,000 as pilot in command · 140 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.32 inHg
- Observed at
- VJI
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 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.