# NTSB GAA20CA021: Wingtip To Wingtip Panzl S-330, N540ML, Cedartown, GA, October 11, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 11, 2019, 19:04 local (23:04 UTC) - Place: Cedartown, GA - Coordinates: 34.018611, -85.146385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0186&lon=-85.1464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 12 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - NTSB case key (mKey): 100426 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA20CA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100426/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100426 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA20CA021 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) ***This report was modified on June 4, 2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** The departing pilot's failure to see and avoid the arriving airplane as it was turning off the runway from which the departing pilot was taking off. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Wingtip To Wingtip PANZL S-330, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=056170N), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraft (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Wingtip To Wingtip PANZL S-330, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=056170N), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=2802606), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2802606), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Wingtip To Wingtip PANZL S-330, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=056170N), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=2802606), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) ***This report was modified on June 4, 2020. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original report.*** The pilot in the Panzl S-330 airplane reported that he was landing and had turned on the airport runway pilot-controlled lighting about 5 miles before arriving at the airport and transmitted a 2-mile final radio call over the airport's CTAF. He landed the airplane and made "S" turns on runway 28 because "it is not possible to see the opposite threshold" when established on the runway. When the pilot began a right turn to exit the runway at the midfield taxiway, a De Havilland DHC-6 Twin Otter airplane that had initiated a takeoff roll from the opposite end of the runway impacted his airplane. The airport's runway does not have a parallel taxiway, and it is standard practice to back taxi to the departure end. The pilot in the Twin Otter reported that he transmitted his intentions to taxi to the midfield intersection and to depart from runway 10. He did not activate the pilot-controlled runway lighting but recalled that he had noticed that the pilot-controlled lighting had been turned on, and he taxied to the hold short line and did not see any airplanes. He back taxied to the approach end of runway 10 and maneuvered his airplane to take off. During the takeoff roll, the airplane's left wing struck the Panzl S-330. Neither pilot recalled hearing radio transmissions on the CTAF. The Twin Otter sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) The pilot in the landing airplane reported that, he had turned on the airport runway pilot-controlled lighting about 5 miles prior to arriving at the airport, and transmitted 2-mile final radio call, over the airport's CTAF. He landed the airplane and made "S" turns on runway 28 because, "it is not possible to see the opposite threshold" when established on the runway. When the pilot began a right turn to exit the runway at the mid-field taxiway, an airplane that had initiated a takeoff roll from the opposite end of the runway collided with the landing airplane. The airport's runway does not have a parallel taxiway and it is standard practice to back taxi to the departure end. During a conversation with the IIC, the pilot in the departing airplane reported that he was performing a skydiving operation. He transmitted his intentions to taxi to the mid-field intersection and to depart runway 10. He did not activate the pilot-controlled runway lighting but recalled that he had noticed that the pilot activated lighting had been turned on, and he taxied to the hold short line and did not see any airplanes. He back taxied to the approach end of runway 10 and maneuvered his airplane to takeoff from runway 10. During the takeoff roll the left wing of his airplane struck the landing airplane. The departing airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing spar. Neither pilot recalled hearing radio transmissions on the airport's CTAF. Both pilot's reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N540ML](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N540ML), registered now, S/N 008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WINGTIP TO WINGTIP LLC PANZL S-330 - Registry model: [Wingtip To Wingtip PANZL S-330](https://openairdocs.org/model/wingtip-to-wingtip-panzl-s-330) (registry code 056170N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-G1D5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-g1d5) (registry code 41644, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 008 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 752.3 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 G1D5 330 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 9, 2019 - Departed: 3A2, Tazewell, TN - Destination: 4A4, Cedartown, GA - Airport: 4A4, Polk County Airport- Cornelius - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N166DH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N166DH), registered now, S/N 66, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: De Havilland DHC 6 TWIN OTTER (100) - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-6-twin-otter) (registry code 2802606) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 66 - Year built: 1967 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A turbo prop; Pratt & Whitney PT6A turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Sdp Llc - Registered owner: Sdp Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 4A4, Cedartown, GA - Destination: 4A4, Cedartown, GA - Airport: 4A4, Polk County Airport- Cornelius - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N540ML; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 29, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,465 total, 665 in this make and model, 2,421 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N166DH; age 73; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2 ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KPUJ, 12 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20191011021092A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191011021092A), Oct 11, 2019: Wingtip To Wingtip LLC PANZL S-330, Cedartown, GA, Substantial damage. On Friday October 11, 2019, at approximately 7:00 p.m. eastern daylight time, a 2008 panzl S330 with registration N540ML, sustained substantial damaged as a… - [Accident 20191011022052A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191011022052A), Oct 11, 2019: Dehavilland DHC-6 TWIN OTTER, Cedartown, GA, Substantial damage. On Friday October 11, 2019, at approximately 7:00 p.m. eastern daylight time, a 1967 de havilland, model DHC-6 twin otter with registration N166DH sustained… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 17, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100426. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 -N540ML (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480036&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-N540ML-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record -N166DH (item 2, .PDF, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480037&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-N166DH-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-Master.PDF - Revisions to Final Report (item 4, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484916&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Revisions%20to%20Final%20Report-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.