LAX08LA004

NTSB accident investigation · Yakovlev YAK-50 · El Cajon, CA · October 6, 2007

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
October 6, 2007, 13:35 local (20:35 UTC)
Place
El Cajon, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N509RAYakovlev YAK-50N950MSYakovlev YAK-50
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 28, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
66855

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 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.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Landing - roll
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Landing - roll
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

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.