# NTSB LAX97LA200: Moravan Z242L, N7ZA, Jean, NV, June 5, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 1997, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Jean, NV - Coordinates: 35.750526, -115.529174 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7505&lon=-115.5292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 10, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29803 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX97LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29803/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX97LA200 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The pilot of the Beech E35, N7354, inadequate preflight planning/preparation and lack of familiarity with the aircraft which led to his attempt to taxi from a seat without brake controls. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - brakes(normal) - not available, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (cause) - brakes(normal) - not available, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The purpose of the flight was to take aerial photograph's of the Moravan Z242L, N7ZA, from the Beech E35, N7354B, with the Moravan as the lead plane on takeoff. The pilot of the Moravan announced his intentions over Unicom and proceeded to taxi. The pilot of the Moravan noticed the Beech had begun to pull forward and that there appeared to be no braking action from the other pilot. Prior to the taxi, the cameraman in the Beech asked to sit in the left seat. The pilot moved the control yoke over to the right side and visually checked the right side rudder pedals and ascertained that they looked capable for braking because of the similar appearance to the left side rudder pedals. Prior to the accident, the pilot of the Beech had attended a 2-hour seminar for this aircraft and no brake idiosyncrasies had been mentioned. After engine start, as he was looking at the checklist, the pilot noticed that his aircraft was moving forward. He attempted to stop the aircraft before it collided with the Moravan, but was unable to make the brakes function. There are no brakes installed on the right side rudder pedals of the Beech. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On June 5, 1997, at 1300 hours Pacific daylight time, a Moravan Z242L, N7ZA, was struck on the right wing by a Beech E35, N7354B, while taxiing from the ramp area at the Jean Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The Moravan was substantially damaged, and the airline transport rated pilot was not injured. The Beech sustained minor damage, and the commercial instrument rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the aerial photo shoot flight, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot of the Moravan reported that he announced his intentions to taxi to runway 20R on the Jean Unicom. He started his taxi, following the yellow line to the right, and noticed that the Beech had just started the engine as he came abeam the aircraft. The pilot said that he noticed that the Beech was also pulling forward and that there appeared to be no braking action. The pilot stated that he pushed in the throttle of the Moravan to try to get past the Beech while also moving off to the left side of the taxiway. The pilot of the Beech reported that aerial photographs were to be taken of the Moravan from his aircraft. The cameraman asked if he could sit in the left front seat to take pictures out of the left side window. The pilot stated that he moved the control yoke over to the right side and that the rudder pedals looked ". . .visually capable for braking because they had the same appearance as the left side rudder pedals." He stated that he had not read anything in the Pilot Operating Handbook (POH) stating that there were no brakes on the right side. Prior to the accident, the pilot of the Beech had attended a 2-hour seminar for this aircraft and said no "brake idiosyncrasies" had been mentioned. The pilot reported that he performed the "before start checklist" and that he noticed that the Moravan was taxing by him. In his written statement he said, "with the parking brake and brakes set I engaged the starter. . .I was watching the engine gauges and noticed from my peripheral vision that I was moving forward slightly. . .I immediately stepped on the brakes harder, but I was still moving forward. The ramp was down sloped slightly and I began to move at a faster rate." The pilot reported that he pulled the mixture to idle cutoff, and as he was turning the aircraft to the right to avoid the Moravan, the propeller struck the right wing on the Moravan. The left wing tip of the Beech then contacted the vertical stabilizer of the Moravan. An Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Las Vegas, Nevada, Flight Standards District Office examined the aircraft and reported that the ". . .pilot of the Bonanza could not stop his aircraft as he was flying from the right seat which has no pedal brake control." The FAA inspector established flight control and engine continuity with no preimpact discrepancies noted. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N7ZA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7ZA), registered now, S/N 0694, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Moravan Z242L - Registry model: [Moravan Z242L](https://openairdocs.org/model/moravan-z242l) (registry code 5920207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0694 - Airframe hours: 156 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1B6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Aerobatic School Of Las Vegas - Registered owner: Vegas Aircraft Co., LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Aerobatic; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, April 4, 1997, 53 hours before - Departed: 0L7 - Airport: 0L7, Jean ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N7354B (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Beech E35 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D3817 - Airframe hours: 4455 - Engines: Continental E-225-8 225 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffery M. Farmer - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 1997, 102 hours before - Departed: 0L7 - Airport: 0L7, Jean ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N7ZA; age 51; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 3,130 total, 250 in this make and model, 2,850 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N7354B; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 322 total, 3 in this make and model, 247 as pilot in command, 54 in the last 90 days, 46 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 185° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 22,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LAS, 40 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19970605047669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970605047669A), Jun 5, 1997: Zlin Z242L, Jean, NV, Substantial damage. (-16) On 06/05/97, at approximately 1300 hours local, aircraft N7354B and N7ZA were to depart Jean Airport (0L7) for an aerial photo shoot. Aircraft N7ZA began… - [Accident 19970605047709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970605047709A), Jun 5, 1997: Beech E35, Jean, NV, Minor damage. (-16) On 06/05/97, at approximately 1300 hours local, aircraft 7354B and N7ZA were to depart Jean Airport (0L7) for an aerial photo shoot. Aircraft N7ZA began… 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.