# NTSB LAX93LA331: Ultimate 10-80, N51677, Chandler, AZ, August 21, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 1993, 06:50 local (13:50 UTC) - Place: Chandler, AZ - Coordinates: 33.319259, -111.869277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3193&lon=-111.8693&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28455 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX93LA331 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28455/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX93LA331 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE NONCERTIFICATED PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE PRESCRIBED VFR PROCEDURES AND POOR VISUAL LOOKOUT. THE OTHER AIRCRAFT PILOT'S RESTRICTED VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS A FACTOR IN THIS ACCIDENT. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) the noncertificated pilot's failure to follow the prescribed vfr procedures and poor visual lookout. The other aircraft pilot's restricted visual lookout was a factor in this accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - restricted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - poor, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - object - aircraft moving on ground - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - poor, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - restricted, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE AMATEUR BUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE PILOT ANNOUNCED HIS POSITION AS HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WHEN ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE PILOT OBSERVED A REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANE TAXIING TOWARD THE RUNWAY. AS THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE TURNED ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE ULTRALIGHT STOP AT THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE EXPERIMENTAL PILOT WAS REQUIRED TO FLY THE FINAL APPROACH AT A SLOW AIRPEED WITH A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK AND A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE WIRES THAT CROSSED THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. WHEN THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS NEARING THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE NONCERTIFICATED PILOT FLYING THE REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANE ENTERED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND WAS STRUCK BY THE LANDING AIRPLANE. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE AMATEUR BUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE PILOT ANNOUNCED HIS POSITION AS HE ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WHEN ON THE DOWNWIND LEG, THE PILOT OBSERVED A REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANE TAXIING TOWARD THE RUNWAY. AS THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE TURNED ONTO THE FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT OBSERVED THE ULTRALIGHT STOP AT THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD. THE EXPERIMENTAL PILOT WAS REQUIRED TO FLY THE FINAL APPROACH AT A SLOW AIRPEED WITH A HIGH ANGLE OF ATTACK AND A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE WIRES THAT CROSSED THE FINAL APPROACH COURSE. WHEN THE EXPERIMENTAL AIRPLANE WAS NEARING THE RUNWAY THRESHOLD, THE NONCERTIFICATED PILOT FLYING THE REGISTERED ULTRALIGHT AIRPLANE ENTERED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND WAS STRUCK BY THE LANDING AIRPLANE. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On Saturday, August 21, 1993, at 0650 hours mountain standard time, an Ultimate 10-80 ultralight aircraft, N51677, collided with an ultralight RX-550 aircraft, N38RJ, on the approach threshold of runway 35, at Stellar Airpark, Chandler, Arizona. The pilot of the Ultimate 10-80, N51677, was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight; the pilot of N38RJ was beginning a local visual flight rules personal flight. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot aboard N51677, the sole occupant, was not injured; the noncertificated pilot aboard N38RJ, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. N51677 flight originated at Stellar Airpark at 0600 hours. The pilot of N51677 told Mr. Paul Texter, aviation safety inspector, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Phoenix [Arizona] Certificate Management Office, that he observed N38RJ taxiing toward the runway. He also stated that he announced his location on 122.8 MHz, the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). The pilot also stated that he heard and felt the collision with N38RJ as the aircraft crossed the landing threshold. He then stated that the design of the Ultimate 10-80 restricts the forward and downward vision of the aircraft. The pilot reiterated his statement to Inspector Texter in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, submitted by the pilot of N51677. He stated that due to wires crossing the final approach course he was required to fly at slow airspeed with a high angle of attack and a high sink rate. N38RJ had stopped at the runway threshold/taxiway intersection when he turned onto the final approach. Examination of N38RJ revealed that the airplane was not equipped with any two-way radio communications. The pilot of N38RJ was immediately transported to the hospital and was not available to be interviewed. The pilot did not respond to the Safety Board's request to complete the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. According to the FAA, Airman's Record Section, the pilot of N38RJ does not hold any pilot or medical certificate. Federal Air Regulations require any person who operates a registered civil aircraft to hold a pilot certificate for that category and class of aircraft; a properly endorsed student pilot certificate would be acceptable. The regulations also require that the pilot hold a valid medical certificate appropriate to the operation being conducted. Title 14 CFR Part 91.113(b) states: General - When weather conditions permit, regardless of whether an operation is conducted under instrument flight rules or visual flight rules, vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft. When a rule of this section gives another aircraft the right-of-way, the pilot shall give way to that aircraft and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear. Title 14 CFR 91.113(g) states, in part: Landing - Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface, except that they shall not take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On Saturday, August 21, 1993, at 0650 hours mountain standard time, an Ultimate 10-80 ultralight aircraft, N51677, collided with an ultralight RX-550 aircraft, N38RJ, on the approach threshold of runway 35, at Stellar Airpark, Chandler, Arizona. The pilot of the Ultimate 10-80, N51677, was completing a local visual flight rules personal flight; the pilot of N38RJ was beginning a local visual flight rules personal flight. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot aboard N51677, the sole occupant, was not injured; the noncertificated pilot aboard N38RJ, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. N51677 flight originated at Stellar Airpark at 0600 hours. The pilot of N51677 told Mr. Paul Texter, aviation safety inspector, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Phoenix [Arizona] Certificate Management Office, that he observed N38RJ taxiing toward the runway. He also stated that he announced his location on 122.8 MHz, the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). The pilot also stated that he heard and felt the collision with N38RJ as the aircraft crossed the landing threshold. He then stated that the design of the Ultimate 10-80 restricts the forward and downward vision of the aircraft. The pilot reiterated his statement to Inspector Texter in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2, submitted by the pilot of N51677. He stated that due to wires crossing the final approach course he was required to fly at slow airspeed with a high angle of attack and a high sink rate. N38RJ had stopped at the runway threshold/taxiway intersection when he turned onto the final approach. Examination of N38RJ revealed that the airplane was not equipped with any two-way radio communications. The pilot of N38RJ was immediately transported to the hospital and was not available to be interviewed. The pilot did not respond to the Safety Board's request to complete the required Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. According to the FAA, Airman's Record Section, the pilot of N38RJ does not hold any pilot or medical certificate. Federal Air Regulations require any person who operates a registered civil aircraft to hold a pilot certificate for that category and class of aircraft; a properly endorsed student pilot certificate would be acceptable. The regulations also require that the pilot hold a valid medical certificate appropriate to the operation being conducted. Title 14 CFR Part 91.113(b) states: General - When weather conditions permit, regardless of whether an operation is conducted under instrument flight rules or visual flight rules, vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft. When a rule of this section gives another aircraft the right-of-way, the pilot shall give way to that aircraft and may not pass over, under, or ahead of it unless well clear. Title 14 CFR 91.113(g) states, in part: Landing - Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface, except that they shall not take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N51677](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N51677-1995-12-28), registration cancelled 1995-12-28, S/N 1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ULTIMATE 10-80 - Registry model: [Kisielewski Robert ULTIMATE 10-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/kisielewski-robert-ultimate-10-180) (registry code 05620QY) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 17 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kisielewski, Robert - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 23, 1993, 17 hours before - Airport: P19, Stellar Airpark, runway 35, 4,005 × 55 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N38RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38RJ-2012-12-13), registration cancelled 2012-12-13, S/N SB-2171 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: R. J. MCNAUL BEAVER RX-550 (BEAVER R) - Registry model: [Mcnaul Robert J BEAVER RX-550](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcnaul-robert-j-beaver-rx-550) (registry code 05613JQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Ultralight, amateur-built - Serial number: SB-2171 - Engines: ROTAX reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mcnamara, Willard - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: P19, Stellar Airpark, runway 35, 4,005 × 55 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N51677; age 69; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front - Pilot, aircraft N38RJ; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 60 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19930821033642A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930821033642A), Aug 21, 1993: Amtr ULTIMATE, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. On short final collided with N38RJ that had taxiied unseen onto runway. Observed prior collision to be holding. - [Accident 19930821033641A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930821033641A), Aug 21, 1993: Amtr RX550, Chandler, AZ, Substantial damage. Taxied onto runway in front of landing N51677 and collided with same. No radio, no license or medical. 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.