LAX08LA235

NTSB accident investigation · Extra Flugzeugproduktions-und EA 300/L · San Jose, CA · July 20, 2008

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 20, 2008, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC)
Place
San Jose, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N981KMExtra Flugzeugproduktions-und EA 300/LN5146SCessna TR182
Defining events
Taxi-from runway: Ground collisionTaxi-from runway: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 23, 2009
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
68491

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 pilot of the other airplane's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from another airplane.

The inadequate visual lookout of the pilot and his failure to maintain clearance from another airplane.

Findings · 4

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

N981KM · Extra Flugzeugproduktions-und EA 300/L

Personnel issuesPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotExtra Flugzeugproduktions EA 300/L: 1 caseAll aircraft: 137 casesProbable cause

N5146S · Cessna TR182

Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftCessna TR182: 1 caseAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause
Personnel issuesPersonnel issues › Task performance · Pilot of other aircraftCessna TR182: 2 casesAll aircraft: 137 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

N981KM · Extra Flugzeugproduktions-und EA 300/L

N5146S · Cessna TR182

Analysis

After landing on runway 31R, the pilot of a Cessna 182 exited onto taxiway Delta, with instructions to hold short of taxiway Zulu and to contact ground control for further taxi instructions. The pilot contacted ground control, and received a clearance to taxi to parking via taxiway Zulu. During this time, the Extra 300 had landed on runway 31L, and exited onto taxiway Delta, with hold short instructions for the right runway. As he turned onto Delta, the pilot of the Extra 300 saw the Cessna 182 holding short of taxiway Zulu. About a minute later, he was cleared to cross the right runway, hold short of taxiway Zulu, and contact ground control. The pilot of the Extra 300 taxied about 50 yards onto taxiway Delta, across the runway and across taxiway Yankee, towards taxiway Zulu. He stated that the nose of the airplane blocked his forward view and that he did not perform S-turns to identify any obstacles ahead. He also reported that he had forgotten that he had seen the Cessna 182 on taxiway Zulu earlier. The Extra 300 pilot was taxiing with idle power, and about to contact ground control, when the propeller of his airplane collided with the tail, rudder, and elevator of the Cessna 182.

After landing on runway 31R, the pilot of a Cessna 182 exited onto taxiway Delta, with instructions to hold short of taxiway Zulu and to contact ground control for further taxi instructions. The pilot contacted ground control, and received a clearance to taxi to parking via taxiway Zulu. During this time, the Extra 300 had landed on runway 31L, and exited onto taxiway Delta, with hold short instructions for the right runway. As he turned onto Delta, the pilot of the Extra 300 saw the Cessna 182 holding short of taxiway Zulu. About a minute later, he was cleared to cross the right runway, hold short of taxiway Zulu, and contact ground control. The pilot of the Extra 300 taxied about 50 yards onto taxiway Delta, across the runway and across taxiway Yankee, towards taxiway Zulu. He stated that the nose of the airplane blocked his forward view and that he did not perform S-turns to identify any obstacles ahead. He also reported that he had forgotten that he had seen the Cessna 182 on taxiway Zulu earlier. The Extra 300 pilot was taxiing with idle power, and about to contact ground control, when the propeller of his airplane collided with the tail, rudder, and elevator of the Cessna 182.

Factual narrative

On July 20, 2008, about 1530 Pacific daylight time, an Extra Flugzeugproduktions-und EA 300/L, N981KM, collided on the ground with a Cessna TR182, N5146S, at Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV), San Jose, California. Both pilots were operating their airplanes under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot piloting the EA 300 and the private pilot piloting the TR 182 were not injured. The EA 300 sustained minor damage, and the TR 182 sustained substantial damage to the tail section. Both airplanes had been on local area flights; the EA 300 had departed at 1450, and the TR 182 had departed at 1445. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for either flight.

The pilot of the TR 182 reported that he landed on runway 31R, and exited the runway onto taxiway Delta. The local tower controllers advised the pilot to hold short of taxiway Zulu, and contact ground control on the appropriate frequency. The pilot followed the instructions and contacted ground control; however, he did not hear a response from ground control upon his initial call. The pilot contacted ground control again; the controller issued a clearance to taxi to parking via taxiway Zulu. While reading back the clearance, the pilot reportedly felt the airplane "jump and shutter," and saw debris fly from behind him forward and into his airplane's propeller. He then realized that an airplane behind him had collided with the tail of his airplane.

In a written report, the pilot of EA 300 stated that he had landed on runway 31L, and followed the controllers' instructions to exit the runway at taxiway Delta, and hold short of runway 31R. The pilot reported that during the turn onto Delta, he saw the TR 182 ahead on the taxiway, holding short of Zulu. The pilot of the EA 300 reported that about 1 minute later, he was cleared to cross runway 31R, hold short of taxiway Zulu, and to contact ground control. He taxied about 50 yards on taxiway Delta, across the runway and across taxiway Yankee, towards the Zulu taxiway. The pilot stated that the nose of his airplane blocked his forward view, and he did not perform S-turns to identify if any obstacles were in front of him. He also reported that he forgot that he had seen the TR 182 ahead of his airplane. The pilot was taxiing with idle power and about to contact ground control when the propeller of his airplane collided with the rudder and elevator of the TR 182.

The propeller of the EA 300 received minor damage, while the elevator, vertical stabilizer, and rudder of the TR 182 sustained substantial damage.

On July 20, 2008, about 1530 Pacific daylight time, an Extra Flugzeugproduktions-und EA 300/L, N981KM, collided on the ground with a Cessna TR182, N5146S, at Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV), San Jose, California. Both pilots were operating their airplanes under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The private pilot piloting the EA 300 and the private pilot piloting the TR 182 were not injured. The EA 300 sustained minor damage, and the TR 182 sustained substantial damage to the tail section. Both airplanes had been on local area flights; The EA 300 had departed at 1450, and the TR 182 had departed at 1445. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for either flight.

The pilot of the TR 182 reported that he landed on runway 31R, and exited the runway onto taxiway Delta. The local tower controllers advised the pilot to hold short of taxiway Zulu, and contact ground control on the appropriate frequency. The pilot followed the instructions and contacted ground control; however, he did not hear a response from ground control upon his initial call. The pilot contacted ground control again; the controller issued a clearance to taxi to parking via taxiway Zulu. While reading back the clearance, the pilot reportedly felt the airplane "jump and shutter," and saw debris fly from behind him forward and into his airplane’s propeller. He then realized that an airplane behind him had collided with the tail of his airplane.

In a written report, the pilot of the EA 300 stated that he had landed on runway 31L, and followed the controllers’ instructions to exit the runway at taxiway Delta, and hold short of runway 31R. The pilot reported that during the turn onto Delta, he saw the TR 182 ahead on the taxiway, holding short of Zulu. The pilot of the EA 300 reported that about 1 minute later, he was cleared to cross runway 31R, hold short of taxiway Zulu, and to contact ground control. He taxied about 50 yards on taxiway Delta, across the runway and across taxiway Yankee, towards the Zulu taxiway. The pilot stated that the nose of his airplane blocked his forward view, and he did not perform S-turns to identify if any obstacles were in front of him. He also reported that he forgot that he had seen the TR 182 ahead of his airplane. The pilot was taxiing with idle power and about to contact ground control when the propeller of his airplane collided with the rudder and elevator of the TR 182.

The propeller of the EA 300 received minor damage, while the elevator, vertical stabilizer, and rudder of the TR 182 sustained substantial damage.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N981KM
Reported as
Extra Flugzeugproduktions-und EA 300/L
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1271
Airframe hours
110
Engine
Lycoming AEIO-540-L1B5, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Michael R. Hsing
Registered owner
Michael R. Hsing
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 1, 2008 · 110 hours before
Departed
RHV · San Jose, CA
Destination
RHV · San Jose, CA
Airport
RHV · Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara C, runway 31L, 3,099 × 75 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
N5146S
Reported as
Cessna TR182
Category
Airplane
Serial number
R18201511
Airframe hours
3,782
Engine
Lycoming O-540-L3C5D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Steven J. Perry
Registered owner
Steven J. Perry
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 30, 2007 · 50 hours before
Departed
RHV · San Jose, CA
Destination
RHV · San Jose, CA
Airport
RHV · Reid-Hillview Of Santa Clara C, runway 31R, 3,099 × 75 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 N981KM
Age
49
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
380 total · 100 in this make and model · 290 as pilot in command · 60 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N5146S
Age
53
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
October 2, 2007
Seat
Left
Flight hours
360 total · 60 in this make and model · 275 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 11 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
320° at 15 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
29.94 inHg
Observed at
RHV

FAA reports on this event · 2

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