# NTSB LAX00LA060: Pitts S-2B, N87WA, Santa Ana, CA, December 23, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 23, 1999, 12:14 local (20:14 UTC) - Place: Santa Ana, CA - Coordinates: 33.669803, -117.899154 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6698&lon=-117.8992&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 2, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48396 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48396/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA060 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The failure of the pilot of the other airplane to maintain an adequate obstruction clearance while taxiing. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate obstruction clearance while taxiing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - engine(s) operating - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A Pitts S-2B biplane collided with a Piper PA-28R-201 while taxiing for takeoff from a tee hangar area. The Piper was stopped at the end of the alley between the tee hangar rows holding short of an active taxiway awaiting a clearance from ground control when the collision occurred. The Pitts pilot stated that he was between a tee hangar row when he had been cleared for takeoff. He said he was performing S-turns for forward visibility while taxiing. During the second S-turn, he contacted the left wing and fuselage of the Piper. A ground witness was standing on the ramp at the end of a tee hangar row off the right wing of the Piper. He stated that the Piper was stationary and the Pitts taxied up from behind and tried to cut between the Piper and a tee hangar. The witness said he had to run from his location out of the path of the Pitts to keep from being hit. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A Pitts S-2B biplane collided with a Piper PA-28R-201 while taxiing for takeoff from a tee hangar area. The Piper was stopped at the end of the alley between the tee hangar rows holding short of an active taxiway awaiting a clearance from ground control when the collision occurred. The Pitts pilot stated that he was between a tee hangar row when he had been cleared for takeoff. He said he was performing S-turns for forward visibility while taxiing. During the second S-turn, he contacted the left wing and fuselage of the Piper. A ground witness was standing on the ramp at the end of a tee hangar row off the right wing of the Piper. He stated that the Piper was stationary and the Pitts taxied up from behind and tried to cut between the Piper and a tee hangar. The witness said he had to run from his location out of the path of the Pitts to keep from being hit. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) SEE NARRATIVE FOR LAX00LA060A ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On December 23, 1999, at 1214 hours Pacific standard time, a Pitts S-2B biplane, N87WA, collided with a Piper PA-28R-201, N43793, while taxiing for takeoff from a tee hangar area at the Santa Ana, California, airport. The Piper PA-28R-201 was holding short of a taxiway at the hold line when the collision occurred. The Pitts S-2B, operated by the pilot, sustained minor damage. The Piper, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither private pilot in the Pitts S-2B nor the airline transport pilot in the Piper PA-28R was injured. The local area personal flights were being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector from the Long Beach, California, Flight Standards District Office responded to the scene and interviewed the pilots. The Pitts pilot stated that he was between a tee hangar row when he had been cleared for takeoff. He said he was performing S-turns for forward visibility while taxiing. During the second S-turn, he contacted the left wing and fuselage of the Piper, causing substantial damage. The Piper pilot stated that he was at the end of the alley between the tee hangar rows holding short of an active taxiway awaiting a clearance from ground control, and did not see the Pitts until the collision. A ground witness was standing on the ramp at the end of a tee hangar row off the right wing of the Piper. He stated that the Piper was stationary and the Pitts taxied up from behind and tried to cut between the Piper and a tee hangar. The witness said he had to run from his location out of the path of the Pitts to keep from being hit. The Pitts pilot failed to sign for a registered letter from the Safety Board requesting the filing of a NTSB form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N87WA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Pitts S-2B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5111 - Airframe hours: 763 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-540 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dorian Christian Viniegra - Registered owner: Phillip R. Rothwell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SNA, CA - Airport: SNA, John Wayne Orange County ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N43793](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N43793), registered now, S/N 28R-7737135 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-201 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-201](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-201) (registry code 7102816) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-7737135 - Airframe hours: 3050 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tom Burgess Logan - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: SNA, CA - Airport: SNA, John Wayne Orange County ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N87WA; age 27; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 800 total, 350 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days - Pilot, aircraft N43793; age 46; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SNA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19991223044922A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991223044922A), Dec 23, 1999: Piper PA28R201, Santa Ana, CA, Substantial damage. (.4)On December 23, 1999, at 1214 hours pacific standard time, a pitts S-2B biplane, N87WA, collided with a Piper PA-28R-201, N43793, while taxiing for takeoff… 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.