GAA19CA068

NTSB accident investigation · Silveira Jonathan A Sonex · Corona, CA · November 19, 2018

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
November 19, 2018, 13:50 local (21:50 UTC)
Place
Corona, CA
Injuries
4 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N322JSSilveira Jonathan A SonexN4240LCessna 172
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
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

Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationSilveira Jonathan A SONEX: 1 caseAll aircraft: 116 casesProbable cause
Attention/monitoring: monitoring environmentPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftSilveira Jonathan A SONEX: 1 caseAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause

N4240L · Cessna 172

Attention/monitoring: monitoring environmentPersonnel issues › Psychological · Instructor/check pilotCessna 172G: 2 casesAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause
Attention/monitoring: monitoring environmentPersonnel issues › Psychological · Student/instructed pilotCessna 172G: 2 casesAll aircraft: 809 casesProbable cause
Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftCessna 172G: 2 casesAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause
Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operationCessna 172G: 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.

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.