- Date
- September 23, 1993, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Sherman, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N7FDPitts S1-TN15AVPitts S2B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 1, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19930923036131A19930923036132A
- Case key
- 18836
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
Failure to maintain visual lookout by the pilots in command of both aircraft.
Failure to maintain visual lookout by the pilots of both aircraft.
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
During the u. s. national aerobatics championships, two pitts aircraft involved in the competition were taxiing. One was inbound from landing, and the other was a departure. The two aircraft collided on a 75 foot wide taxiway. Taxiing was not monitored by ATC.
During the u. s. national aerobatics championships, two pitts aircraft involved in the competition were taxiing. One was inbound from landing, and the other was a departure. The two aircraft collided on a 75 foot wide taxiway. Taxiing was not monitored by ATC.
Factual narrative
Refer to narrative for FTW 93-L-A265A.
On September 23, 1993, approximately 1515 central daylight time, a Pitts S1-T, N7FD, and a Pitts S2B, N15AV, collided during taxi at Grayson County Airport, Sherman, Texas. Neither of the pilots were injured and both aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed.
Both aircraft were participating in the United States National Aerobatics Championships. N7FD was taxiing for takeoff and N15AV was taxiing inbound following landing. The area where the collision occurred is a 75 foot wide taxiway which runs parallel to runway 17/35. N7FD was north bound and N15AV was south bound.
A temporary control tower was in operation at the time of the collision and available information is that both aircraft were cleared to taxi and were instructed to monitor tower. By letter of agreement, the temporary tower was not responsible for monitoring taxi operations.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N7FD
- Reported as
- Pitts S1-T
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1033
- Airframe hours
- 514
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-360-A1E, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Delacerda, Fred G.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 8, 1993 · 47 hours before
- Airport
- F39 · Grayson County
- Registration
- N15AV
- Reported as
- Pitts S2B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5228
- Airframe hours
- 253
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Hc And Nr, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 15, 1992 · 139 hours before
- Airport
- F39 · Grayson County
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 N7FD
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 6,675 total · 438 in this make and model · 6,420 as pilot in command · 104 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N15AV
- Age
- 37
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight engineer, Airline transport, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 7,950 total · 127 in this make and model · 3,450 as pilot in command · 170 in the last 90 days · 32 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- F39
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.