- Date
- October 6, 2007, 13:35 local (20:35 UTC)
- Place
- El Cajon, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA reports
- 20071006827171A20071006827192A
- Case key
- 66855
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 inadequate visual lookout of the pilot of another airplane and his failure to maintain clearance from a taxiing airplane.
The inadequate visual lookout of the pilot and his failure to maintain clearance from a taxiing airplane.
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.
Analysis
Four Yakovlev YAK-50 airplanes were conducting a formation flight. The number four airplane (N509RA) was landing on the right side of runway 27R in a staggered pattern behind the number three airplane (N950MS). During the landing roll, the number four airplane's propeller and right wing leading edge struck the tail section of the number three airplane. The number four airplane had floated and landed past his intended landing point due to gusty winds. The number three airplane had crossed onto the right side of the runway during his touchdown and landing roll due to the crosswinds. The number four airplane slowed to a taxi speed after landing and began a left turn onto the taxiway. The pilot of the number four airplane did not see the number three airplane until the propeller of his airplane impacted the tail section of the number three airplane.
Four Yakovlev YAK-50 airplanes were conducting a formation flight. The number four airplane (N509RA) was landing on the right side of runway 27R in a staggered pattern behind the number three airplane (N950MS). During the landing roll, the number four airplane's propeller and right wing leading edge struck the tail section of the number three airplane. The number four airplane had floated and landed past his intended landing point due to gusty winds. The number three airplane had crossed onto the right side of the runway during his touchdown and landing roll due to the crosswinds. The number four airplane slowed to a taxi speed after landing and began a left turn onto the taxiway. The pilot of the number four airplane did not see the number three airplane until the propeller of his airplane impacted the tail section of the number three airplane.
Factual narrative
On October 6, 2007, about 1335 Pacific daylight time, a Yakovlev YAK-50, N509RA, collided on the ground with a Yakovlev YAK-50, N950MS, at Gillespie Field Airport, El Cajon, California. Both owners were operating their airplanes under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport pilot flying N509RA was not injured; the airplane sustained minor damage. The airline transport pilot in N950MS was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator and rudder. The local flights departed Gillespie Field at 1215. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rule (VFR) flight plan had been filed.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), four airplanes were conducting a formation flight. During the landing roll on runway 27R, the number four airplane (N509RA) struck the number three airplane (N950MS). The number four airplane sustained minor damage, including damage to the propeller and damage to the leading edge of the right wing. The number three airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail section.
The pilot of the number four airplane reported that he was landing behind the number three airplane, using a staggered landing pattern. Due to the gusty wind conditions, the number four airplane floated on landing and touched down past the intended landing point on the runway. After landing, the number four airplane slowed to 2-3 miles per hour and began to turn to the left to exit onto taxiway 02. The pilot reported that he was confused because he did not see the other airplane, but decided that the number three airplane had continued further down the runway. The pilot of the number four airplane did not see the number three airplane until the propeller of his airplane impacted the tail section of the number three airplane. In a later conversation between the pilots, the pilot of the number three airplane stated that during his landing he had crossed onto the right side of the runway. The pilot of the number four airplane thought that this was due to the crosswind conditions. The right side of the runway had been designated to the number four airplane.
An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for Gillespie Field was issued at 1347. It stated: winds from 260 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 17 knots; visibility 30 miles; skies clear; temperature 22 degrees Celsius; dew point 5 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.02 inHg.
On October 6, 2007, about 1335 Pacific daylight time, a Yakovlev YAK-50, N509RA, collided on the ground with a Yakovlev YAK-50, N950MS, at Gillespie Field Airport, El Cajon, California. Both owners were operating their airplanes under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The airline transport pilot flying N509RA was not injured; the airplane sustained minor damage. The airline transport pilot in N950MS was not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left elevator and rudder. The local flights departed Gillespie Field at 1215. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a visual flight rule (VFR) flight plan had been filed.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), four airplanes were conducting a formation flight. During the landing roll on runway 27R, the number four airplane (N509RA) struck the number three airplane (N950MS). The number four airplane sustained minor damage, including damage to the propeller and damage to the leading edge of the right wing. The number three airplane sustained substantial damage to the tail section.
The pilot of the number four airplane reported that he was landing behind the number three airplane, using a staggered landing pattern. Due to the gusty wind conditions, the number four airplane floated on landing and touched down past the intended landing point on the runway. After landing, the number four airplane slowed to 2-3 miles per hour and began to turn to the left to exit onto taxiway 02. The pilot reported that he was confused because he did not see the other airplane, but decided that the number three airplane had continued further down the runway. The pilot of the number four airplane did not see the number three airplane until the propeller of his airplane impacted the tail section of the number three airplane. In a later conversation between the pilots, the pilot of the number three airplane stated that during his landing he had crossed onto the right side of the runway. The pilot of the number four airplane thought that this was due to the crosswind conditions. The right side of the runway had been designated to the number four airplane.
An aviation routine weather report (METAR) for Gillespie Field was issued at 1347. It stated: winds from 260 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 17 knots; visibility 30 miles; skies clear; temperature 22 degrees Celsius; dew point 5 degrees Celsius; altimeter 30.02 inHg.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N509RA
- Reported as
- Yakovlev YAK-50
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 832509
- Engine
- Ivchenko Vedeneye M14P, 360 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- SEE · El Cajon, CA
- Destination
- SEE · El Cajon, CA
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- SEE · Gillespie Field Airport, runway 27R, 5,342 × 100 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
- N950MS
- Reported as
- Yakovlev YAK-50
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 791507
- Engine
- Ivchenko VedeneyevM14P, 420 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- YAK Driver LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- SEE · El Cajon, CA
- Destination
- SEE · El Cajon, CA
- Airport
- SEE · Gillespie Field Airport, runway 27R, 5,342 × 100 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 N509RA
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 1, 2007
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 9,000 total · 30 in this make and model · 8,600 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 65 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N950MS
- Age
- 44
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter, Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 0 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 13 knots
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.02 inHg
- Observed at
- SEE
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.