- Date
- September 13, 1996, 09:15 local (16:15 UTC)
- Place
- Reno, NV
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 31, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19960913028362A19960913028361A
- Case key
- 29561
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 N230MP inadequate visual lookout while landing on a runway occupied by another known aircraft. A factor in the accident was the procedure to allow simultaneous landings by aircraft on the same runway.
The pilot of N230MP inadequate visual lookout while landing on a runway occupied by another known aircraft. A factor in the accident was the procedure to allow simultaneous landings by aircraft on the same runway.
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
The two Pitts S-1S aircraft collided after landing on runway 26. The airplanes were participating in the Reno Air Races and had completed a biplane class heat race under a waiver approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot of N230MP indicated that he observed N15HR about 0.25 miles ahead of his position while on final approach to the runway. He said N15HR touched down on the right side of the runway and he planned to touch down on the left side. The pilot then indicated he lost sight of N15HR while his airplane was floating during the landing flare. A few seconds after a three point touchdown the pilot saw N15HR on his right side and was unable to avoid the collision. The pilot of N15HR indicated after the landing roll she turned left while taxiing about 5 miles per hour to exit the runway and was struck from behind. The pilot also indicated before she turned she cleared left and did not see any other airplane on the runway. Procedures in place for the air race provided for the simultaneous landing of two biplanes on the same runway to facilitate the show.
The two Pitts S-1S aircraft collided after landing on runway 26. The airplanes were participating in the Reno Air Races and had completed a biplane class heat race under a waiver approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. The pilot of N230MP indicated that he observed N15HR about 0.25 miles ahead of his position while on final approach to the runway. He said N15HR touched down on the right side of the runway and he planned to touch down on the left side. The pilot then indicated he lost sight of N15HR while his airplane was floating during the landing flare. A few seconds after a three point touchdown the pilot saw N15HR on his right side and was unable to avoid the collision. The pilot of N15HR indicated after the landing roll she turned left while taxiing about 5 miles per hour to exit the runway and was struck from behind. The pilot also indicated before she turned she cleared left and did not see any other airplane on the runway. Procedures in place for the air race provided for the simultaneous landing of two biplanes on the same runway to facilitate the show.
Factual narrative
On September 13, 1996, at 0915 hours Pacific daylight time, two Pitts S-1S aircraft, N230MP and N15HR, collided after landing on runway 26 at the Reno-Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage and neither pilot was injured. The airplanes were participating in the Reno Air Races and had completed a biplane class heat race under a waiver approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
The pilot of N230MP indicated that he observed N15HR about 0.25 miles ahead of his position while on final approach to the runway. He said N15HR touched down on the right side of the runway and he planned to touch down on the left side. The pilot of N230MP then indicated he lost sight of N15HR while his airplane was floating during the landing flare. A few seconds after a three point touchdown the pilot saw N15HR on his right side and was unable to avoid the collision.
The pilot of N15HR indicated after the landing roll she turned left while taxiing about 5 miles per hour to exit the runway and was struck from behind. The pilot of N15HR also indicated before she turned she cleared left and did not see any other airplane on the runway.
On September 13, 1996, at 0915 hours Pacific daylight time, two Pitts S-1S aircraft, N230MP and N15HR, collided after landing on runway 26 at the Reno-Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage and neither pilot was injured. The airplanes were participating in the Reno Air Races and had completed a biplane class heat race under a waiver approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.
The pilot of N230MP indicated that he observed N15HR about 0.25 miles ahead of his position while on final approach to the runway. He said N15HR touched down on the right side of the runway and he planned to touch down on the left side. The pilot of N230MP then indicated he lost sight of N15HR while his airplane was floating during the landing flare. A few seconds after a three point touchdown the pilot saw N15HR on his right side and was unable to avoid the collision.
The pilot of N15HR indicated after the landing roll she turned left while taxiing about 5 miles per hour to exit the runway and was struck from behind. The pilot of N15HR also indicated before she turned left she cleared left and did not see any other airplane on the runway.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N230MP
- Reported as
- Pitts S-1S
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1001
- Airframe hours
- 205
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-360-B4A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Lo, Jeffrey G.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 1, 1996 · 20 hours before
- Departed
- 4SD
- Airport
- 4SD · Reno Stead, runway 26, 7,600 × 150 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
- N15HR
- Reported as
- Pitts S-1S
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 4
- Airframe hours
- 700
- Engine
- Lycoming AEIO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 91
- Registered owner
- Discovery Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 1, 1996 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- 4SD
- Airport
- 4SD · Reno Stead, runway 26, 7,600 × 150 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 N230MP
- Age
- 32
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 440 total · 120 in this make and model · 400 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N15HR
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 100 in this make and model · 3,800 as pilot in command · 225 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 5,500 ft broken
- Temperature
- 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RNO, 13 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.