# NTSB ERA13LA299: Aerotek Pitts S-2B, N5314Y, Cleveland, GA, June 19, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 2013, 17:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Cleveland, GA - Coordinates: 34.556945, -83.708053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5569&lon=-83.7081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Taxi-to 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: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 2, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87260 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA299 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87260/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87260 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA299 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The taxiing pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in his airplane's collision with a stopped airplane. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The taxiing pilot's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in his airplane's collision with a stopped airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: surface speed/braking](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 238 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062045/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 170, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [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: [Cessna 170, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2072302), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The pilot of the Pitts had landed his tailwheel-equipped airplane to the south on the grass runway and was taxiing toward the end of the runway, planning to take off again to the north. (Landing to the south and taking off to the north was common practice at the accident airport because of surrounding terrain.) However, while the pilot was taxiing, the Pitts’ propeller struck the left wing of another airplane that was stopped at the end of the runway to conduct before-takeoff checks. The Pitts pilot stated that he did not see the other airplane before the collision. He also did not note any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded his airplane’s normal operation. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The pilot of the Pitts had landed his tailwheel-equipped airplane to the south on the grass runway and was taxiing toward the end of the runway, planning to take off again to the north. (Landing to the south and taking off to the north was common practice at the accident airport because of surrounding terrain.) However, while the pilot was taxiing for takeoff, the Pitts’ propeller struck the left wing of another airplane that was stopped at the end of the runway to conduct before-takeoff checks. The Pitts pilot stated that he did not see the other airplane before the collision. He also did not note any preexisting mechanical anomalies that would have precluded his airplane’s normal operation. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On June 19, 2013, about 1745 eastern daylight time, a taxiing Pitts S-2B, N5314Y, sustained minor damage when it collided with a stopped Cessna 170, N2552V, which sustained substantial damage, at Mountain Air Park (0GE5), Cleveland, Georgia. Neither the private pilot in the Pitts, nor the airline transport pilot and passenger in the Cessna were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for either local flight, which were operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to a responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the air park had a single turf runway [with no taxiways], 17/35, that was 2,500 feet long and 200 feet wide. Due to terrain, the procedure was to take off from runway 35 and land on runway 17. According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Pitts, he had landed on runway 17 and was taxiing toward the departure end of runway 35 when its propeller impacted the Cessna, which was stopped on one side for preflight checks. The pilot stated that he did not see the Cessna prior to the collision, which resulted in substantial damage to that airplane’s left wing forward spar. The pilot of the Pitts also did not note any preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with it that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On June 19, 2013, about 1745 eastern daylight time, a taxiing Pitts S-2B, N5314Y, sustained minor damage when it collided with a stopped Cessna 170, N2552V, which sustained substantial damage, at Mountain Air Park (0GE5), Cleveland, Georgia. Neither the private pilot in the Pitts, nor the airline transport pilot and passenger in the Cessna were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for either local flight, which were operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to a responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the air park had a single turf runway [with no taxiways], 17/35, that was 2,500 feet long and 200 feet wide. Due to terrain, the procedure was to take off from runway 35 and land on runway 17. According to the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Pitts, he had landed on runway 17 and was taxiing toward the departure end of runway 35 when its propeller impacted the Cessna, which was stopped on one side for preflight checks. The pilot stated that he did not see the Cessna prior to the collision, which resulted in substantial damage to that airplane’s left wing forward spar. The pilot of the Pitts also did not note any preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures with it that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N5314Y (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AEROTEK INC PITTS S-2B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5022 - Airframe hours: 1287 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-540 SER 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2013, 4 hours before - Departed: 0GE5, Cleveland, GA - Destination: 0GE5, Cleveland, GA - Airport: 0GE5, Mountain Air Park, runway 18, 2,500 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N2552V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2552V), registered now, S/N 18057, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 170 - Registry model: [Cessna 170](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-170) (registry code 2072302) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18057 - Airframe hours: 3315 - Engines: CONT MOTOR C145 SERIES 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2013, 13 hours before - Airport: 0GE5, Mountain Air Park, runway 17, 2,500 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N5314Y; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 9, 2013; seat: right; flight hours: 321 total, 7 in this make and model, 321 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days - Pilot, aircraft N2552V; age 65; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 19, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 26,279 total, 40 in this make and model, 20,881 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: GVL, 19 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). - [Incident 20130619010302I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130619010302I), Jun 19, 2013: Aerotek Inc PITTS S-2B, Cleveland, GA, Minor damage. [privacy data omitted], Pilot of N5314Y was practicing landings in a newly acquired pitts prior to the accident. [privacy data omitted] Was on the UNICOM… - [Accident 20130619009912A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130619009912A), Jun 19, 2013: Cessna 170, Cleveland, GA, Substantial damage. On June 21, 2013 at 12PM approximately, inspectors from the atlanta FSDO arrived to investigate an aircraft damage that occurred on 06/19/2013 at approximately… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87260. 5.0 MB in all. - Cessna Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 428 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Cessna%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pitts Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 521 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396983&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pitts%20Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statements (item 3, .PDF, 166 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statements-Redacted.PDF - Overview of Airport (item 4, .PDF, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Overview%20of%20Airport-Master.PDF - Photo 1: View of Substantial Damage to Cessna (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396990&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20Substantial%20Damage%20to%20Cessna%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Side View of Damaged Cessna Wing (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40396994&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Side%20View%20of%20Damaged%20Cessna%20Wing%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.