GAA17CA223

NTSB accident investigation · Piper J3C · New Carlisle, OH · April 8, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 8, 2017, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
Place
New Carlisle, OH
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N88470Piper J3CN8350UCessna 172
Defining events
Landing-landing roll: Ground collisionLanding: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 5, 2017
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA
Case key
94984

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 other pilot’s decision to land on an occupied runway and his failure to see and avoid the airplane.

The pilot’s decision to land on an occupied runway and his failure to see and avoid the other airplane.

Findings · 5

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.

N88470 · Piper J3C

Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationPiper J3C-65: 3 casesAll aircraft: 116 casesProbable cause
Physical workspace: visibilityEnvironmental issues › Task environment · Effect on personnelPiper J3C-65: 1 caseAll aircraft: 25 cases

N8350U · Cessna 172

Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftCessna 172F: 4 casesAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationCessna 172F: 1 caseAll aircraft: 116 casesProbable cause

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.

N88470 · Piper J3C

N8350U · Cessna 172

Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Piper reported that his airplane was not equipped with a radio and that the forward visibility was not good when taxiing while piloting the airplane from the rear seat. He entered a left downwind for the runway, saw no other aircraft while on final, and continued to land. He added that, during the landing roll, as he turned to clear the runway, his airplane collided with a Cessna airplane that was taxiing on the same runway after having landed on it from the opposite direction. He reported that he did not see the Cessna before the collision. The Piper sustained substantial damage to the right wing's front spar. The pilot of the Cessna reported that, while flying local in the traffic pattern, he announced his position and intent to land on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency during all landings while simultaneously visually checking right and left for traffic. He added that, as he was taxiing on the runway toward the exit after landing, he saw the Piper land in the opposite direction on the same runway. Subsequently, the Piper turned diagonally across the runway toward the Cessna, and the two airplanes collided. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to its right wing. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with either airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Piper reported that his airplane was not equipped with a radio and that the forward visibility was not good when taxiing while piloting the airplane from the rear seat. He entered a left downwind for the runway, saw no other aircraft while on final, and continued to land. He added that, during the landing roll, as he turned to clear the runway, his airplane collided with a Cessna airplane that was taxiing on the same runway after having landed on it from the opposite direction. He reported that he did not see the Cessna before the collision. The Piper sustained substantial damage to the right wing's front spar. The pilot of the Cessna reported that, while flying local in the traffic pattern, he announced his position and intent to land on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency during all landings while simultaneously visually checking right and left for traffic. He added that, as he was taxiing on the runway toward the exit after landing, he saw the Piper land in the opposite direction on the same runway. Subsequently, the Piper turned diagonally across the runway toward the Cessna, and the two airplanes collided. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to its right wing. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with either airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Piper, reported that his airplane was not equipped with a radio, and that the forward visibility is not good when taxiing, while piloting the airplane from the rear seat. He entered a left downwind for the runway, saw no other aircraft while on final, and continued to land. He added that during the landing roll, as he turned to clear the runway, his airplane collided with a Cessna airplane that was taxiing on the runway after having landed on the same runway, from the opposite direction. He reported that he did not see the Cessna prior to the collision. The Piper sustained substantial damage to the right wing's front spar. The pilot of the Cessna reported that while flying local in the traffic pattern he announced his position and intent to land on the airport's Common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) during all landings, while at the same time visually checking right and left for traffic. He added that as he was taxiing on the runway toward the exit after landing, he saw the Piper land in the opposite direction on the same runway. Subsequently, the Piper turned diagonally across the runway toward the Cessna, and the two airplanes collided. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to its right wing. Both pilots reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with either airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Piper, reported that his airplane was not equipped with a radio, and that the forward visibility is not good when taxiing, while piloting the airplane from the rear seat. He entered a left downwind for the runway, saw no other aircraft while on final, and continued to land. He added that during the landing roll, as he turned to clear the runway, his airplane collided with a Cessna airplane that was taxiing on the runway after having landed on the same runway, from the opposite direction. He reported that he did not see the Cessna prior to the collision. The Piper sustained substantial damage to the right wing's front spar. The pilot of the Cessna reported that while flying local in the traffic pattern he announced his position and intent to land on the airport's Common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) during all landings, while at the same time visually checking right and left for traffic. He added that as he was taxiing on the runway toward the exit after landing, he saw the Piper land in the opposite direction on the same runway. Subsequently, the Piper turned diagonally across the runway toward the Cessna, and the two airplanes collided. The Cessna sustained substantial damage to its right wing. Both pilots reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical failures or malfunctions with either airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N88470
Reported as
Piper J3C (65)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
16094
Built
1946
Airframe hours
4,461.7
Engine
Cont Motor A65-8, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 9, 2016
Departed
3OH0 · New Carlisle, OH
Destination
3OH0 · New Carlisle, OH
Airport
3OH0 · Andy Barnhart Memorial, runway 10, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf
Equipment
None

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
N8350U
Reported as
Cessna 172 (F)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17252250
Built
1965
Airframe hours
3,491.6
Engine
Cont Motor O-300-D, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · June 1, 2016
Departed
3OH0 · New Carlisle, OH
Destination
3OH0 · New Carlisle, OH
Airport
3OH0 · Andy Barnhart Memorial, runway 28, 2,000 × 150 ft, grass/turf
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.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N88470
Age
73
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Sport pilot, Unknown
Last flight review
November 14, 2015
Seat
Rear
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
9,000 total · 60 in this make and model · 8,000 as pilot in command
Role
Pilot, aircraft N8350U
Age
77
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 11, 2016
Seat
Left
Restraint
Lap only
Flight hours
2,400 total · 2,280 in this make and model · 2,400 as pilot in command · 9.6 in the last 90 days · 5.1 in the last 30 days · 0.4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
130° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
59 °F, dew point 21 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
KFFO, 6 nm away

Docket · 4

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.7 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.