- Date
- December 29, 1995, 13:52 local (23:52 UTC)
- Place
- Kailua Kona, HI
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 3, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19951229043581A19951229043582A
- Case key
- 29364
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 failure of the Waco pilot to see and avoid the opposite direction Cessna 172 while both aircraft were taxiing in a non-movement area of the airport. Factors in the accident were: the congested nature of the taxi lane, which limited the Waco pilot's ability to perform clearing turns while taxiing; the Waco pilot's restricted forward visibility due to the landing gear configuration and engine cowling size; and the Cessna pilot's failure to attempt radio contact with the Waco when the danger of a collision became apparent.
the failure of the Waco pilot to see and avoid the opposite direction Cessna 172 while both aircraft were taxiing in a non-movement area of the airport. Factors in the accident were: the congested nature of the taxi lane, which limited the Waco pilot's ability to perform clearing turns while taxiing; the Waco pilot's restricted forward visibility due to the landing gear configuration and engine cowling size; and the Cessna pilot's failure to attempt radio contact with the Waco when the danger of a collision became apparent.
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
A Classic Aircraft Waco YMF, N40115, collided with a Cessna 172N, N734ZC, while taxiing on the Kailua Kona, Hawaii, airport. The Waco was returning from a local area for-hire sightseeing flight. The Cessna 172N was taxiing for takeoff on a local area personal flight. The collision occurred in an area of the airport designated as a non-movement ramp area, which is not under the control or supervision of the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. In verbal and written statements to responding airport security personnel and FAA inspectors, the pilot of the Waco said he entered the ramp area, which was unusually congested with parked aircraft. The proximity of the parked airplanes limited his ability to S-turn and resulted in limited forward visibility. The pilot reported that he did not see the Cessna in time to avoid the collision. The pilot of the Cessna 172N reported that she completed a run-up and entered the taxi lane on the ramp to proceed to the taxiway. After entering the taxi lane, she observed the Waco coming toward her aircraft and moved as far to the side as she could and stopped the aircraft. The pilot said she did not attempt any radio communications with the Waco. The Waco's left wing strut brace contacted the left wing of the Cessna.
A Classic Aircraft Waco YMF, N40115, collided with a Cessna 172N, N734ZC, while taxiing on the Kailua Kona, Hawaii, airport. The Waco was returning from a local area for-hire sightseeing flight. The Cessna 172N was taxiing for takeoff on a local area personal flight. The collision occurred in an area of the airport designated as a non-movement ramp area, which is not under the control or supervision of the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower. In verbal and written statements to responding airport security personnel and FAA inspectors, the pilot of the Waco said he entered the ramp area, which was unusually congested with parked aircraft. The proximity of the parked airplanes limited his ability to S-turn and resulted in limited forward visibility. The pilot reported that he did not see the Cessna in time to avoid the collision. The pilot of the Cessna 172N reported that she completed a run-up and entered the taxi lane on the ramp to proceed to the taxiway. After entering the taxi lane, she observed the Waco coming toward her aircraft and moved as far to the side as she could and stopped the aircraft. The pilot said she did not attempt any radio communications with the Waco. The Waco's left wing strut brace contacted the left wing of the Cessna.
Factual narrative
On December 29, 1995, at 1352 Hawaii standard time, a Classic Aircraft Waco YMF, N40115, collided with a Cessna 172N, N734ZC, while taxiing on the Kailua Kona, Hawaii, airport. The Waco YMF was owned and operated by Classic Aircraft Corporation of Kailua, and was returning from a local area for-hire sightseeing flight. The Cessna 172N was owned and operated by the pilot and was taxiing for takeoff on a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for either operation. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and the two passengers onboard the Waco were not injured. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the Cessna 172N, was not injured. The collision occurred in an area of the airport designated as a non-movement ramp area, which is not under the control or supervision of the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower.
In verbal and written statements to responding airport security personnel and FAA inspectors, the pilot of the Waco said he entered the ramp area, which was unusually congested with parked aircraft. The proximity of the parked airplanes limited his ability to S-turn and resulted in limited forward visibility. The pilot reported that he did not see the Cessna in time to avoid the collision.
The pilot of the Cessna 172N reported that she completed a run-up and entered the taxi lane on the ramp to proceed to the taxiway. After entering the taxi lane, she observed the Waco coming toward her aircraft and moved as far to the side as she could and stopped the aircraft. The pilot said she did not attempt any radio communications with the Waco. The Waco's left wing strut brace contacted the left wing of the Cessna.
Neither the pilot nor the operator of the Waco have responded to repeated requests to complete an aircraft accident report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2.
On December 29, 1995, at 1352 Hawaii standard time, a Classic Aircraft Waco YMF, N40115, collided with a Cessna 172N, N734ZC, while taxiing on the Kailua Kona, Hawaii, airport. The Waco YMF was owned and operated by Classic Aircraft Corporation of Kailua, and was returning from a local area for-hire sightseeing flight. The Cessna 172N was owned and operated by the pilot and was taxiing for takeoff on a local area personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for either operation. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot and the two passengers onboard the Waco were not injured. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the Cessna 172N, was not injured. The collision occurred in an area of the airport designated as a non-movement ramp area, which is not under the control or supervision of the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower.
In verbal and written statements to responding airport security personnel and FAA inspectors, the pilot of the Waco said he entered the ramp area, which was unusually congested with parked aircraft. The proximity of the parked airplanes limited his ability to S-turn and resulted in limited forward visibility. The pilot reported that he did not see the Cessna in time to avoid the collision.
The pilot of the Cessna 172N reported that she completed a run-up and entered the taxi lane on the ramp to proceed to the taxiway. After entering the taxi lane, she observed the Waco coming toward her aircraft and moved as far to the side as she could and stopped the aircraft. The pilot said she did not attempt any radio communications with the Waco. The Waco's left wing strut brace contacted the left wing of the Cessna.
Neither the pilot nor the operator of the Waco have responded to repeated requests to complete an aircraft accident report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N40115
- Reported as
- Classic Waco YMF
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- F5-023
- Engine
- Jacobs R-755B2, 315 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Classic Aircraft Corp
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- KOA
- Airport
- KOA · Keahole International
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
- N734ZC
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172269236
- Airframe hours
- 1,962
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Barbara L. Clever
- Registered owner
- Christopher & Barbara Clever
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 5, 1995 · 5 hours before
- Departed
- KOA
- Airport
- KOA · Keahole International
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 N40115
- Age
- 65
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 1,700 total
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N734ZC
- Age
- 48
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 412 total · 358 in this make and model · 303 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F
- Observed at
- KOA
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N40115 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.