- Date
- July 28, 2017, 13:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place
- Spokane, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi-from runway: Ground collisionTaxi-from runway: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 31, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA reports
- 20170728024552A20170728010111A
- Case key
- 95719
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 adequate clearance and visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the stationary airplane.
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance and visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in his airplane colliding with the stationary airplane.
Findings · 7
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.
N16MR · Randall Marvin L Vans RV 3A
N6GT · Wilts Gayle T RV-3A
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.
N16MR · Randall Marvin L Vans RV 3A
N6GT · Wilts Gayle T RV-3A
Analysis
The pilots reported that, following a formation flight and landing of four airplanes and while taxiing to park, the lead airplane pilot reduced power to idle, and the engine quit. After multiple attempts to restart the engine, the lead pilot signaled the other pilots to pass on the left side and continue to park. As the second airplane taxied past, the third airplane followed. The pilots added that the third airplane's pilot had limited forward visibility due to the airplane's nose attitude and that the pilot was unaware that the lead airplane was stationary. Subsequently, the third airplane passed the lead airplane with insufficient clearance, which resulted in the third airplane's right wing and propeller colliding with the lead airplane's left elevator and the third airplane's propeller striking the lead airplane's left wing. The lead airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilots reported that, following a formation flight and landing of four airplanes and while taxiing to park, the lead airplane reduced power to idle, and the engine quit. After multiple attempts to restart the engine, the lead pilot signaled the other pilots to pass on the left side and continue to park. As the second airplane taxied past, the third airplane followed. The pilots added that the third airplane's pilot had limited forward visibility due to the nose attitude of the airplane and that the pilot was unaware that the lead airplane was stationary. Subsequently, the third airplane passed the lead airplane with insufficient clearance, which resulted in the third airplane's right wing colliding with the lead airplane's left elevator and the third airplane's propeller striking the lead airplane's left wing. The lead airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
Following a formation flight and landing of four airplanes, the pilots reported that, while taxing to park, the lead airplane reduced power to idle and the engine quit. After multiple attempts to restart the engine, the lead pilot signaled the other pilots to pass on the left side, and continue to parking. As the 2nd airplane taxied past, the 3rd airplane followed. The pilots added that, the 3rd airplane had limited forward visibility due to the nose attitude of the airplane, and the pilot was unaware that the lead airplane was stationary. Subsequently, the 3rd airplane passed the lead airplane with insufficient clearance, resulting in the 3rd airplane's right-wing colliding with the lead airplane's left elevator, and the propeller from the 3rd airplane struck the lead airplane's left wing. The lead airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
Following a formation flight and landing of four airplanes, the pilots reported that, while taxing to park, the lead airplane reduced power to idle and the engine quit. After multiple attempts to restart the engine, the lead pilot signaled the other pilots to pass on the left side, and continue to parking. As the 2nd airplane taxied past, the 3rd airplane followed. The pilots added that, the 3rd airplane had limited forward visibility due to the nose attitude of the airplane, and the pilot was unaware that the lead airplane was stationary. Subsequently, the 3rd airplane passed the lead airplane with insufficient clearance, resulting in the 3rd airplane's right-wing colliding with the lead airplane's left elevator, and the propeller from the 3rd airplane struck the lead airplane's left wing. The lead airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and left elevator. The pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N16MR
- Reported as
- Randall Marvin L Vans RV 3A (UNDESIGNAT)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 811-3
- Built
- 1988
- Airframe hours
- 2,105
- Engine
- Superior SLO-320-A1XC2, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air race/show · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · February 3, 2017
- Departed
- SKA · Spokane, WA
- Destination
- SKA · Spokane, WA
- Airport
- SKA · Fairchild Afb
- Equipment
- Data recorder, Handheld GPS
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
- N6GT
- Reported as
- Wilts Gayle T RV-3A (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 811-1
- Built
- 1983
- Airframe hours
- 2,349.2
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-L-320EIB, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Air race/show · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · November 12, 2016
- Departed
- SKA · Spokane, WA
- Destination
- SKA · Spokane, WA
- Airport
- SKA · Fairchild Afb
- Equipment
- Unknown
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 N16MR
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 10, 2016
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 1,446 total · 1,015 in this make and model · 1,367 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N6GT
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 22, 2017
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 7,462 total · 500 in this make and model · 5,000 as pilot in command · 80 in the last 90 days · 45 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- KSKA, 1 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 4, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 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.
Other investigations on N16MR · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.