- Date
- November 19, 2018, 13:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- Corona, CA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Defining events
- Landing: Ground collisionTakeoff: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 10, 2019
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA reports
- 20181119022742A20181119022752A
- Case key
- 98664
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’s failure to see and avoid the airplane on the runway while landing and the pilot receiving instruction’s and flight instructor's failure to properly scan the approach before pulling onto the runway during the takeoff.
The pilot’s failure to see and avoid the airplane on the runway while landing and the pilot receiving instruction’s and flight instructor's failure to properly scan the approach before pulling onto the runway during takeoff.
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.
N322JS · Silveira Jonathan A Sonex
N4240L · 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.
N322JS · Silveira Jonathan A Sonex
N4240L · Cessna 172
Analysis
The pilot in the low-wing airplane reported that, while in the traffic pattern at the nontowered airport, he made continuous reports on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). He added that, on final, he observed a high-wing airplane positioned adjacent to the runway he was approaching. He added that, on short final, "the runway was clear," and he heard no radio transmissions. The low-wing airplane impacted the high-wing airplane on the runway. The low-wing airplane yawed right and came to rest nose down in front of the right wing of the high-wing airplane. The pilot receiving instruction in the high-wing airplane reported that, after performing a run-up, she and the flight instructor taxied to and held short of the departure runway. She added that, during the taxi, she and the instructor did not hear radio transmissions on the CTAF from other aircraft in the traffic pattern. Before departure, they visually cleared final and base and reported their departure intentions on the CTAF. They lined up on the runway for a short-field takeoff, held the brakes, and applied full power. She released the brakes and about 3 to 5 seconds into the takeoff roll, they heard a loud noise, and the airplane was pushed left. Despite reporting not hearing the other pilots on the CTAF, all the pilots reported that they used the same frequency. The low-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The high-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. Two witnesses in the other airplane reported that, while taxiing, they heard the pilots in the high-wing airplane transmit that they were "taking the runway" and departing. They observed the high-wing airplane line up on the runway but did not see any aircraft on base or final. Several moments later, they looked back and saw the high-wing airplane still on the runway and the low-wing airplane on final. One of the witnesses made a call on the CTAF warning the low-wing airplane pilot that another airplane was on the runway but heard no response. He made another call to the low-wing airplane pilots to suggest that they perform a go-around, and then they observed the low-wing airplane land on top of the high-wing airplane. The pilots of the low- and high-wing airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot in the low-wing airplane reported that, while in the traffic pattern at the nontowered airport, he made continuous reports on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). He added that, on final, he observed a high-wing airplane positioned adjacent to the runway he was approaching. He added that, on short final, "the runway was clear," and he heard no radio transmissions. The low-wing airplane impacted the high-wing airplane on the runway. The low-wing airplane yawed right and came to rest nose down in front of the right wing of the high-wing airplane. The pilot receiving instruction in the high-wing airplane reported that, after performing a run-up, she and the flight instructor taxied to and held short of the departure runway. She added that, during the taxi, she and the instructor did not hear radio transmissions on the CTAF from other aircraft in the traffic pattern. Before departure, they visually cleared final and base and reported their departure intentions on the CTAF. They lined up on the runway for a short-field takeoff, held the brakes, and applied full power. She released the brakes and about 3 to 5 seconds into the takeoff roll, they heard a loud noise, and the airplane was pushed left. Despite reporting not hearing the other pilots on the CTAF, all the pilots reported that they used the same frequency. The low-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The high-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. Two witnesses in the other airplane reported that, while taxiing, they heard the pilots in the high-wing airplane transmit that they were "taking the runway" and departing. They observed the high-wing airplane line up on the runway but did not see any aircraft on base or final. Several moments later, they looked back and saw the high-wing airplane still on the runway and the low-wing airplane on final. One of the witnesses made a call on the CTAF warning the low-wing airplane pilot that another airplane was on the runway but heard no response. He made another call to the low-wing airplane pilots to suggest that they perform a go-around, and then they observed the low-wing airplane land on top of the high-wing airplane. The pilots of the low- and high-wing airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot in the low-wing airplane reported that, while in the traffic pattern at the non-towered airport, he made continuous reports on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). He added that, on final, he observed a high-wing airplane positioned adjacent to the runway he was approaching. On short final, "the runway was clear" and he heard no radio transmissions. The low-wing airplane impacted the high-wing airplane on the runway. The low-wing airplane yawed right, the high-wing airplane became visible, and the low-wing airplane came to rest nose down in front of the right wing of the high-wing airplane. The pilot receiving instruction in the high-wing airplane reported that, after performing a run-up, she and the flight instructor taxied to and held short of the departure runway. She added that, during the taxi, she and the instructor did not hear radio transmissions on CTAF from other aircraft in the traffic pattern. Before departure, they visually cleared final and base and reported on the CTAF their departure intentions. They lined up on the runway for a short field takeoff, held the brakes, and applied full power. She released the brakes and about 3 to 5 seconds into the takeoff roll, they heard a loud noise and the airplane was pushed left. The high-wing airplane came to rest with the low-wing airplane "dangling off the right side" of the high-wing airplane. The low-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The high-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. Two eyewitnesses in the same airplane reported that while taxiing, they heard the high-wing airplane make a radio transmission that they were "taking the runway" and departing. They observed the high-wing airplane lined up on the runway but did not see any aircraft on base or final. Several moments later, they looked back and saw the high-wing airplane still on the runway, and also a low-wing airplane on final. One of the witnesses made a call on the "unicom" frequency warning the low-wing airplane that another airplane was on the runway but heard no response. He made another call to the low-wing airplane to perform a go around, and then they observed the low-wing airplane land on top of the high-wing airplane. The pilots of the low-wing and high-wing airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot in the low-wing airplane reported that, while in the traffic pattern at the non-towered airport, he made continuous reports on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). He added that, on final, he observed a high-wing airplane positioned adjacent to the runway he was approaching. On short final, "the runway was clear" and he heard no radio transmissions. The low-wing airplane impacted the high-wing airplane on the runway. The low-wing airplane yawed right, the high-wing airplane became visible, and the low-wing airplane came to rest nose down in front of the right wing of the high-wing airplane. The pilot receiving instruction in the high-wing airplane reported that, after performing a run-up, she and the flight instructor taxied to and held short of the departure runway. She added that, during the taxi, she and the instructor did not hear radio transmissions on CTAF from other aircraft in the traffic pattern. Before departure, they visually cleared final and base and reported on the CTAF their departure intentions. They lined up on the runway for a short field takeoff, held the brakes, and applied full power. She released the brakes and about 3 to 5 seconds into the takeoff roll, they heard a loud noise and the airplane was pushed left. The high-wing airplane came to rest with the low-wing airplane "dangling off the right side" of the high-wing airplane. The low-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The high-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and empennage. Two eyewitnesses in the same airplane reported that while taxiing, they heard the high-wing airplane make a radio transmission that they were "taking the runway" and departing. They observed the high-wing airplane lined up on the runway but did not see any aircraft on base or final. Several moments later, they looked back and saw the high-wing airplane still on the runway, and also a low-wing airplane on final. One of the witnesses made a call on the "unicom" frequency warning the low-wing airplane that another airplane was on the runway but heard no response. He made another call to the low-wing airplane to perform a go around, and then they observed the low-wing airplane land on top of the high-wing airplane. The pilots of the low-wing and high-wing airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the respective airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N322JS
- Reported as
- Silveira Jonathan A Sonex
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 0322
- Built
- 2004
- Airframe hours
- 1,139.9
- Engine
- Jabiru 3300A, 120 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · September 14, 2018
- Departed
- AJO · Corona, CA
- Destination
- AJO · Corona, CA
- Airport
- AJO · Corona Muni, runway 25, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display
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
- N4240L
- Reported as
- Cessna 172 (G)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17254309
- Built
- 1966
- Engine
- Continental O-300 SER, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Departed
- AJO · Corona, CA
- Destination
- AJO · Corona, CA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- AJO · Corona Muni, runway 25, 3,200 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Stall warning system, 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 · 3
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N322JS
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 219 total · 17 in this make and model · 165 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N4240L
- Age
- 27
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 12, 2018
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 291 total · 33 in this make and model · 155 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Flight instructor, aircraft N4240L
- Age
- 26
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 1, 2018
- Seat
- Right
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,750 total · 13 in this make and model · 1,300 as pilot in command · 130 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- KAJO
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 11, 2019, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 8.7 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.