# NTSB GAA16CA127: Cessna 150, N704SL, Santa Paula, CA, February 12, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 12, 2016, 14:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Santa Paula, CA
- Coordinates: 34.347499, -119.060836 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3475&lon=-119.0608&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining events: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 5, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: Van Nuys FSDO (FAA)
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92724
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92724/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92724
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA127

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

The tailwheel pilot's failure to see and avoid a stationary airplane performing a run-up, which resulted in a ground collision.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 1,397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 1,397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Landing gear system: brake](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 297 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023242/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Cessna 150M, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2071830), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Taxi-from runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Aviat S-2C, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=8130001), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, "Due to the restricted visibility from the rear cockpit," he "failed to the see the C-150 that stopped on the taxiway." Subsequently, the propeller of the tailwheel airplane impacted the vertical stabilizer of a stationary Cessna airplane. The student pilot of the Cessna airplane reported that he was preparing for the engine run-up and never saw the tailwheel airplane until after the collision. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer of the Cessna airplane. The pilot of the tailwheel airplane and the student pilot of the Cessna airplane reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative (aircraft 2)

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, "Due to the restricted visibility from the rear cockpit," he "failed to the see the C-150 that stopped on the taxiway." Subsequently, the propeller of the tailwheel airplane impacted the vertical stabilizer of a stationary Cessna airplane. The student pilot of the Cessna airplane reported that he was preparing for the engine run-up and never saw the tailwheel airplane until after the collision. A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer of the Cessna airplane. The pilot of the tailwheel airplane and the student pilot of the Cessna airplane reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N704SL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N704SL), registered now, S/N 15078837, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 (M)
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15078837
- Year built: 1976
- Airframe hours: 15058
- Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Operator: CP Aviation Inc.
- Registered owner: CP Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, February 2, 2015
- Departed: SZP, Santa Paula, CA
- Destination: SZP, Santa Paula, CA
- Airport: SZP, Santa Paula
- Equipment: None

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N57BC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N57BC), registered now, S/N 6042, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC S-2 (C)
- Registry model: [Aviat S-2C](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-s-2c) (registry code 8130001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 6042
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 1109.7
- Engines: Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-04AS 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Cornick, William E. Trustee
- Registered owner: Cornick, William E. Trustee
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, May 22, 2015
- Departed: CMA, CAMARILLO, CA
- Destination: SZP, SANTA PAULA, CA
- Airport: SZP, Santa Paula
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot, aircraft N704SL; age 33; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 50 total, 45 in this make and model, 3 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N57BC; age 83; injuries: none; flight instructor, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, waiver time limited special; last flight review October 24, 2015; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 25,104 total, 3,675 in this make and model, 15,696 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: CMA, 8 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).

- [Accident 20160212001932A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160212001932A), Feb 12, 2016: Cessna 150M, Santa Paula, CA, Substantial damage. On 02/12/2016 about 1500 N704SL was stopped in the run-up area of runway 22 at szp. While performing preflight checks, the aircraft was struck from behind by…
- [Accident 20160212001922A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160212001922A), Feb 12, 2016: Aviat Aircraft Inc S-2C, Santa Paula, CA, Minor damage. On 02/12/2016 about 1500 the pilot, william cronick landed N57BC at szp airport. While taxiing back towards runway 22 the pilot did not see a stopped aircraft,…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 24, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92724. 2.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator_ N704SL_Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator_%20N704SL_Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Pilot/Operator_N57BC_Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 2, .PDF, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator_N57BC_Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 3, .PDF, 650 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40438065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.