LAX05LA124

NTSB accident investigation · North American AT-6C · Chino, CA · March 26, 2005

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 26, 2005, 13:02 local (21:02 UTC)
Place
Chino, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N7055HNorth American AT-6CN7425GCessna 172K
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 25, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
61214

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the pilot of the other airplane's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from obstacles while taxiing.

the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from obstacles while taxiing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - to takeoff
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Standing - engine(s) operating
Object - aircraft moving on ground
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

A North American AT-6C was taxiing onto the runway for takeoff and collided with a Cessna 172K that was stationary and awaiting takeoff clearance. The ground collision occurred after the North American pilot received a clearance to depart. As he was taxiing toward the approach end of the runway from behind the Cessna's position, the airplane's propeller sliced into the outboard portion of the Cessna's left wing.

A North American AT-6C was taxiing onto the runway for takeoff and collided with a Cessna 172K that was stationary and awaiting takeoff clearance. The ground collision occurred after the North American pilot received a clearance to depart. As he was taxiing toward the approach end of the runway from behind the Cessna's position, the airplane's propeller sliced into the outboard portion of the Cessna's left wing.

Factual narrative

On March 26, 2005, at 1302 Pacific standard time, a North American AT-6C, N7055H, taxied for takeoff toward runway 26L and collided with a Cessna 172K, N7425G, that was awaiting takeoff clearance at the Chino Airport, Chino, California. The commercial pilot owned and operated the North American. Smoke Eagles, Inc., a Los Angeles, California, flying club, operated the Cessna, and a private pilot was flying it. The North American sustained minor damage and the Cessna sustained substantial damage. Neither pilot was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed by either pilot. The flights were performed under the provision of 14 CFR Part 91, and were originating.

According to the North American pilot, the ground collision occurred after he had received a clearance to depart. The pilot stated that as he was taxiing toward the approach end of the runway his airplane's propeller sliced into the outboard portion of the Cessna's left wing, which he had not observed from his front seat position. The pilot indicated that he was the second airplane in a flight of two, and the lead airplane had already rolled onto the runway.

The Cessna pilot indicated that the accident occurred while he was standing short of the hold lines at the approach end of the runway and was awaiting clearance to take off. The North American approached from behind his position and impacted the Cessna's left wing with its propeller. The wing tip was destroyed, the left aileron was dislodged, and deformation occurred to the adjacent wing structure.

On March 26, 2005, at 1302 Pacific standard time, a North American AT-6C, N7055H, taxied for takeoff toward runway 26L and collided with a Cessna 172K, N7425G, that was awaiting takeoff clearance at the Chino Airport, Chino, California. The commercial pilot owned and operated the North American. Smoke Eagles, Inc., a Los Angeles, California, flying club, operated the Cessna, and a private pilot was flying it. The North American sustained minor damage and the Cessna sustained substantial damage. Neither pilot was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed by either pilot. The flights were performed under the provision of 14 CFR Part 91, and were originating.

According to the North American pilot, the ground collision occurred after he had received a clearance to depart. The pilot stated that as he was taxiing toward the approach end of the runway his airplane's propeller sliced into the outboard portion of the Cessna's left wing, which he had not observed from his front seat position. The pilot indicated that he was the second airplane in a flight of two, and the lead airplane had already rolled onto the runway.

The Cessna pilot indicated that the accident occurred while he was standing short of the hold lines at the approach end of the runway and was awaiting clearance to take off. The North American approached from behind his position and impacted the Cessna's left wing with its propeller. The wing tip was destroyed, the left aileron was dislodged, and deformation occurred to the adjacent wing structure.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N7055H
Reported as
North American AT-6C
Category
Airplane
Serial number
88-12150
Airframe hours
1,527
Engine
Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Richard S. Fields
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 1, 2005 · 1.2 hours before
Departed
CNO · Chino, CA
Destination
CNO · Chino, CA
Airport
CNO · Chino, runway 26L, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

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
N7425G
Reported as
Cessna 172K
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17259125
Airframe hours
6,993.5
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2D, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 1, 2005 · 5.3 hours before
Departed
CNO · Chino, CA
Destination
BNG · Banning, CA
Airport
CNO · Chino, runway 26L, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

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 N7055H
Age
67
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2
Seat
Front
Flight hours
2,023 total · 374 in this make and model · 1,891 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft N7425G
Age
48
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3
Seat
Left
Flight hours
262 total · 214 in this make and model · 185 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
240° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 39 °F
Altimeter
30.17 inHg

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.