- Date
- July 16, 2017, 15:26 local (22:26 UTC)
- Place
- San Diego, CA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionTaxi-to runway: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170716024612A
- Case key
- 95583
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 failure to maintain separation from a stationary airplane during the taxi to the runway.
The pilot's failure to maintain separation from a stationary airplane during the taxi to the runway.
Findings · 3
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.
N506WS · Spani Wayne M Starduster TOO SA300
N5396E · Cessna 172
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.
N506WS · Spani Wayne M Starduster TOO SA300
N5396E · Cessna 172
Analysis
The pilot of the tandem-seat, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while taxiing to the runway and seated in the rear seat, he had "poor [forward] visibility" and that the airplane's propeller collided with the left wing of a stationary airplane on the taxiway. The pilot reported that he "broke and turned" as soon as he saw the stationary airplane, but "it was too late." The pilot of the stationary airplane reported that he had stopped on the taxiway due to the run-up area ahead being fully occupied with multiple airplanes waiting to depart. He added that his "first awareness" of the tailwheel airplane was the sound of a "loud bang." The stationary airplane's left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The tailwheel airplane sustained minor damage to the propeller. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot of the tandem-seat, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while taxiing to the runway and seated in the rear seat, he had "poor [forward] visibility" and that the airplane's propeller collided with the left wing of a stationary airplane on the taxiway. The pilot reported that he "broke and turned" as soon as he saw the stationary airplane, but "it was too late." The pilot of the stationary airplane reported that he had stopped on the taxiway due to the run-up area ahead being fully occupied with multiple airplanes waiting to depart. He added that his "first awareness" of the tailwheel airplane was the sound of a "loud bang." The stationary airplane's left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The tailwheel airplane sustained minor damage to the propeller. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tandem seat, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while taxiing to the runway, and seated in the rear seat, he had "poor [forward] visibility" and the airplane's propeller collided with the left wing of a stationary airplane on the taxiway. The pilot reported that he had "broke and turned" as soon as he saw the stationary airplane, but "it was too late." The pilot of the stationary airplane reported that he had stopped on the taxiway due to the run-up area ahead being fully occupied with multiple airplane's awaiting to depart. He added that, his "first awareness" of the tailwheel airplane was the sound of a "loud bang." The stationary airplane's left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The tailwheel airplane sustained minor damage to the propeller. The pilot's reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplane's that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot of the tandem seat, tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, while taxiing to the runway, and seated in the rear seat, he had "poor [forward] visibility" and the airplane's propeller collided with the left wing of a stationary airplane on the taxiway. The pilot reported that he had "broke and turned" as soon as he saw the stationary airplane, but "it was too late." The pilot of the stationary airplane reported that he had stopped on the taxiway due to the run-up area ahead being fully occupied with multiple airplane's awaiting to depart. He added that, his "first awareness" of the tailwheel airplane was the sound of a "loud bang." The stationary airplane's left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The tailwheel airplane sustained minor damage to the propeller. The pilot's reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their respective airplane's that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N506WS
- Reported as
- Spani Wayne M Starduster TOO SA300 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1407
- Built
- 2006
- Airframe hours
- 443.1
- Engine
- Lycoming O-435-1, 190 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 17, 2017
- Departed
- MYF · San Diego, CA
- Destination
- MYF · San Diego, CA
- Airport
- MYF · Montgomery-Gibbs Executive
- 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
- N5396E
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (N)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17271842
- Built
- 1978
- Airframe hours
- 12,710.6
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Plus One Flyers Inc.
- Registered owner
- Sorbi Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 25, 2017
- Departed
- MYF · San Diego, CA
- Destination
- SDM · San Diego, CA
- Airport
- MYF · Montgomery-Gibbs Executive
- 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 N506WS
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 17, 2015
- Seat
- Rear
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 384.7 total · 299.2 in this make and model · 330.5 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 2.9 in the last 30 days · 0.1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N5396E
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Waiver time limited special
- Last flight review
- May 21, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 350 total · 350 in this make and model · 250 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 3 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.87 inHg
- Observed at
- KMYF
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.