LAX98LA253

NTSB accident investigation · Yakovlev YAK-55M · Lincoln, CA · August 1, 1998

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 1, 1998, 12:15 local (19:15 UTC)
Place
Lincoln, CA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N910RTYakovlev YAK-55MN4451RCessna 172M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 30, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
43600

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 aircraft's inadequate visual lookout

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout.

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.

Midair collisionApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Midair collisionApproach - vfr pattern - final approach
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

Both aircraft collided on short final approach to the runway. Examination of both aircraft disclosed that the Yak-55M descended on top of the Cessna 172 while over the threshold. The pilot of the Yak-55M stated that the was returning to the field after practicing aerobatic maneuvers and entered left traffic for runway 15 by crossing over the runway at midfield. As he overflew the runway he heard an aircraft call on final approach for runway 15 over the CTAF. He observed an aircraft on a 1/2-mile final and followed that aircraft on a short turning base to final approach. As he rolled out on final and prepared to flare, he felt the collision with an unseen aircraft. The pilot of the Cessna 172 stated that he was in the traffic pattern practicing takeoffs and landings. He said that he called on the CTAF number three for landing behind a Cessna 150 and extended his pattern slightly to allow time for that aircraft to clear the runway. The pilot also reported that he announced his position while on base and final approach. Just as he was flaring the aircraft, he felt a jolt and the aircraft was forced down onto the runway. The pilot of a Cessna 150 in the pattern behind the Cessna 172 stated that he was on downwind when the Yak-55M crossed over the field and cut him off while turning on downwind. The witness reported that the Yak-55M nearly hit his aircraft.

Both aircraft collided on short final approach to the runway. Examination of both aircraft disclosed that the Yak-55M descended on top of the Cessna 172 while over the threshold. The pilot of the Yak-55M stated that he was returning to the field after practicing aerobatic maneuvers and entered left traffic for runway 15 by crossing over the runway at midfield. As he overflew the runway he heard an aircraft call on final approach for runway 15 over the CTAF. He observed an aircraft on a 1/2-mile final and followed that aircraft on a short turning base to final approach. As he rolled out on final and prepared to flare, he felt the collision with an unseen aircraft. The pilot of the Cessna 172 stated that he was in the traffic pattern practicing takeoffs and landings. He said that he called on the CTAF number three for landing behind a Cessna 150 and extended his pattern slightly to allow time for that aircraft to clear the runway. The pilot also reported that he announced his position while on base and final approach. Just as he was flaring the aircraft, he felt a jolt and the aircraft was forced down onto the runway. The pilot of a Cessna 150 in the pattern behind the Cessna 172 stated that he was on downwind when the Yak-55M crossed over the field and cut him off while turning on downwind. The witness reported that the Yak-55M nearly hit his aircraft.

Factual narrative

On August 1, 1998, at 1215 hours Pacific daylight time, a Yakolev YAK-55M, N910RT, collided with a Cessna 172M, N4451R, while both aircraft were on short final approach to runway 15 at the Lincoln, California, airport. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. Neither of the respective private pilots, the sole occupants of their aircraft, were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight plans were not filed for either operation. The Yakolev, owned and operated by its pilot, was returning to the airport at the conclusion of a local area personal flight, which originated about 1130. The Cessna, rented by its pilot from the operator, Atkin Air at the Lincoln airport, was in the traffic pattern performing takeoff and landing practice.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors from the Sacramento, California, Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site, examined the two aircraft, and interviewed both pilots and a witness to the accident.

The pilot of the Yak-55M stated that he was returning to the field after practicing aerobatic maneuvers and entered left traffic for runway 15 by crossing over the runway at midfield. As he overflew the runway he heard an aircraft call on final approach for runway 15 over the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). He observed an aircraft on a 1/2-mile final and followed that aircraft on a short turning base to final approach. As he rolled out on final and prepared to flare, he felt the collision with an unseen aircraft.

The pilot of the Cessna 172 stated that he was in the traffic pattern practicing takeoffs and landings. He stated that he called on the CTAF number three for landing behind a Cessna 150 and extended his pattern slightly to allow time for that aircraft to clear the runway. The pilot also reported that he announced his position while on base and final approach. Just as he was flaring the aircraft, he felt a jolt and the aircraft was forced down onto the runway.

The pilot of a Cessna 150 in the pattern behind the Cessna 172 stated that he was on downwind when the Yak-55M crossed over the field and cut him off while turning on downwind. The witness reported that the Yak-55M nearly hit his aircraft.

On August 1, 1998, at 1215 hours Pacific daylight time, a Yakolev YAK-55M, N910RT, collided with a Cessna 172M, N4451R, while both aircraft were on short final approach to runway 15 at the Lincoln, California, airport. Both aircraft sustained substantial damage. Neither of the respective private pilots, the sole occupants of their aircraft, were injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight plans were not filed for either operation. The Yakolev, owned and operated by its pilot, was returning to the airport at the conclusion of a local area personal flight, which originated about 1130. The Cessna, rented by its pilot from the operator, Atkin Air at the Lincoln airport, was in the traffic pattern performing takeoff and landing practice.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors from the Sacramento, California, Flight Standards District Office responded to the accident site, examined the two aircraft, and interviewed both pilots and a witness to the accident.

The pilot of the Yak-55M stated that he was returning to the field after practicing aerobatic maneuvers and entered left traffic for runway 15 by crossing over the runway at midfield. As he overflew the runway he heard an aircraft call on final approach for runway 15 over the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). He observed an aircraft on a 1/2-mile final and followed that aircraft on a short turning base to final approach. As he rolled out on final and prepared to flare, he felt the collision with an unseen aircraft.

The pilot of the Cessna 172 stated that he was in the traffic pattern practicing takeoffs and landings. He stated that he called on the CTAF number three for landing behind a Cessna 150 and extended his pattern slightly to allow time for that aircraft to clear the runway. The pilot also reported that he announced his position while on base and final approach. Just as he was flaring the aircraft, he felt a jolt and the aircraft was forced down onto the runway.

The pilot of a Cessna 150 in the pattern behind the Cessna 172 stated that he was on downwind when the Yak-55M crossed over the field and cut him off while turning on downwind. The witness reported that the Yak-55M nearly hit his aircraft.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N910RT
Reported as
Yakovlev YAK-55M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
0910
Airframe hours
105
Engine
Vendeneyev M-14P, 350 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert T. Thiessen
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · April 25, 1998
Departed
LHM
Airport
LHM · Lincoln Regional, runway 15, 6,001 × 100 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
N4451R
Reported as
Cessna 172M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17263193
Airframe hours
1,542
Engine
Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Atkin Air
Registered owner
Sandra J. Ledrew
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · July 24, 1998 · 4 hours before
Departed
LHM
Airport
LHM · Lincoln Regional, runway 15, 6,001 × 100 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 N910RT
Age
53
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
600 total
Role
Pilot, aircraft N4451R
Age
41
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
700 total · 24 in this make and model · 502 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
45 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
90 °F, dew point 63 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MYV, 12 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.