- Date
- November 15, 2015, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place
- Greeley, CO
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionTaxi-to runway: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 14, 2016
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA reports
- 20151115022962A20151115021872A
- Case key
- 92355
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 pilot of the following airplane failed to maintain adequate spacing during the taxi to the runway, resulting in a collision with the lead airplane.
Findings · 6
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.
N4256Q · Cessna 172
N70522 · Piper J3C
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.
N4256Q · Cessna 172
Analysis
According to the pilot of tandem cockpit, tailwheel-equipped Piper airplane, which he was operating from the rear seat, while taxiing to the runway his forward visibility was diminished by his airplane's nose, requiring the use of "S" turns in order to clear the area in front of the airplane. He reported that a Cessna airplane was in front of his airplane, and taxiing to the runway as well. He remarked that he and the Cessna were holding on the taxiway momentarily in order to monitor and give way to arriving and departing traffic. He reported that the Cessna moved forward, and he followed, but while entering the "S" turn, he lost sight of the Cessna. He remarked that he abruptly applied the right brake in order to avoid a collision, and his left wing impacted the Cessna's rudder. The pilot of the Cessna reported that during his taxi to the runway, his airplane was struck from behind by the Piper airplane. Both pilots shut down their airplanes, assessed the damage and exchanged information. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to the rudder, while the Piper sustained minor damage to the left wing. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot of tandem cockpit, tailwheel-equipped Piper airplane, which he was operating from the rear seat, while taxiing to the runway his forward visibility was diminished by his airplane's nose, requiring the use of "S" turns in order to clear the area in front of the airplane. He reported that a Cessna airplane was in front of his airplane, and taxiing to the runway as well. He remarked that he and the Cessna were holding on the taxiway momentarily in order to monitor and give way to arriving and departing traffic. He reported that the Cessna moved forward, and he followed, but while entering the "S" turn, he lost sight of the Cessna. He remarked that he abruptly applied the right brake in order to avoid a collision, and his left wing impacted the Cessna's rudder. The pilot of the Cessna reported that during his taxi to the runway, his airplane was struck from behind by the Piper airplane. Both pilots shut down their airplanes, assessed the damage and exchanged information. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to the rudder, while the Piper sustained minor damage to the left wing. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies prior to or during the flight that would have prevented normal operation.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N4256Q
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (L)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17260156
- Built
- 1971
- Airframe hours
- 3,988.2
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Aims Community College
- Registered owner
- Burnham Cessna N4256q LLC.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 24, 2015
- Departed
- GXY · Greeley, CO
- Destination
- GXY · Greeley, CO
- Airport
- GXY · Greeley-Weld County
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
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
- N70522
- Reported as
- Piper J3C (65)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17528
- Built
- 1946
- Airframe hours
- 2,813
- Engine
- Cont Motor C75-8F, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Belleau, James R.
- Registered owner
- Belleau, James R.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 2, 2015
- Departed
- GXY · Greeley, CO
- Destination
- GXY · Greeley, CO
- Airport
- GXY · Greeley-Weld County
- Equipment
- Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- Student pilot, aircraft N4256Q
- Age
- 40
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 18, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,208 total · 63 in this make and model · 1,114 as pilot in command
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N70522
- Age
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Unknown
- Last flight review
- March 2, 2009
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 2,510 total · 577 in this make and model · 2,450 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 39 °F, dew point 27 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KGXY
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 10.3 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.