- Date
- August 12, 1993, 12:45 local (17:45 UTC)
- Place
- Pioneer, LA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 1, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19930812029391A19930812029392A
- Case key
- 18815
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 by both pilots to maintain visual lookout. Factors were the inadequate radio communications by both pilots, and the departing pilot's failure to follow procedures and directives.
The failure by both pilots to maintain visual lookout. Factors were the inadequate radio communications by both pilots, and the departing pilot's failure to follow procedures and directives.
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.
Analysis
N8227K was facing south on the loading ramp at the end of an airstrip, while ground personnel reloaded the airplane. The pilot stated that after the loading was completed, he looked ahead, did not see any traffic, and proceeded to takeoff from his position. The pilot of another similar airplane, N8255K, observed the airplane being reloaded as he entered the traffic pattern on a right downwind, and proceeded to land to the north. The left wing of both airplanes collided while both airplanes had their tailwheel on the ground. Both airlanes were equipped with two way radios, and were tuned to a common UNICOM frequency. The pilot of N8227K stated that he was unable to announce his intentions due to the congestion of the frequency being monitored. Neither pilot made any radio transmissions.
N8227K was facing south on the loading ramp at the end of an airstrip, while ground personnel reloaded the airplane. The pilot stated that once the loading was completed, he looked ahead, did not see any traffic, and proceeded to takeoff from his position. The pilot of another similar airplane, N8255K, observed the airplane being reloaded as he entered the traffic pattern on a right downwind and proceeded to land to the north. The left wings of both airplanes collided while both airplanes had their tailwheel on the ground. Both airplanes were equipped with two-way radios, and were tuned to a common UNICOM frequency. The pilot N8227K stated that he was unable to announce his intentions due to the congestion of the frequency being monitored. Neither pilot made any radio transmissions.
Factual narrative
See narrative for FTW93LA238A.
On August 12, 1993, at 1245 central daylight time, two Grumman G-164B airplanes, N8227K and N8255K, were substantially damaged when they collided on the ground near Pioneer, Louisiana. N8227K was taking off and N8255K was landing. Neither commercial pilot operating the airplanes was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flights.
According to the pilot of the departing airplane (N8227K), his airplane was facing south on the loading ramp at the end of the airstrip, while ground personnel reloaded the airplane with chemicals. The pilot stated that, after the loading was completed, he "looked ahead, did not see any aircraft, and proceeded to takeoff." The pilot added that forward visibility was restricted by the top of the wing and the engine cowling while the airplane was in the 3-point attitude.
According to the pilot of the landing airplane, he entered the traffic pattern on a right downwind, to land to the north. Additionally, he added that he observed an airplane (N8227K), being reloaded on the loading pad at the departure end of the strip. During his landing rollout, as he approached the paved portion of the airstrip, he heard the other airplane applying takeoff power, as he observed the airplane gaining speed during the initial phase of his takeoff roll. The pilot of the landing airplane stated that he averted a head-on collision by veering to the right of the strip.
The outer 15 feet of the left wings of the landing airplane impacted the outer 15 feet of the left wings of the departing airplane.
Both airplanes were equipped with two way radios, and were tuned to a common Unicom frequency. According to the operator that owns the airstrip, the common practice at that airstrip is for the departing airplane to announce its intentions on the radio prior to initiating the takeoff roll. The departing pilot stated that he was unable to announce his intention to depart due to frequency congestion at the time of departure.
Both airplanes were released to their respective owners at the accident site.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N8227K
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 622B
- Airframe hours
- 2,772
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Lingo, Michael A.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 20, 1993 · 239 hours before
- Airport
- NONE · Monticello Flying Service, runway 18, 2,640 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- N8255K
- Reported as
- Grumman G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 637B
- Airframe hours
- 5,749
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Rye, Steve
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 20, 1992 · 251 hours before
- Airport
- NONE · Monticello Flying Service, runway 18, 2,640 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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 N8227K
- Age
- 37
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,806 total · 900 in this make and model · 2,751 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N8255K
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 8,003 total · 5,000 in this make and model · 7,948 as pilot in command · 480 in the last 90 days · 250 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 35 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.