LAX99LA059

NTSB accident investigation · Piper J3C-65 · North Las Vegas, NV · December 28, 1998

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
December 27, 1998, 16:30 local (Dec 28, 1998, 00:30 UTC)
Place
North Las Vegas, NV
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N87714Piper J3C-65N882WSCessna TR182
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 20, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
45525

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Failure of the pilot-in-command of the other aircraft to see and avoid the stationary Cessna TR182.

Failure of the pilot-in-command to determine the taxiway was clear and to see and avoid the stationary Cessna TR182.

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.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - to takeoff
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The Cessna TR182 had been in the run-up area approximately 2 minutes conducting pretakeoff checks. It was on an easterly heading on the first run-up marker. The pilot of the Piper J3, who was in the rear seat, was going to conduct a run-up prior to taking the aircraft in for annual inspection. As he was taxiing north to the run-up area, he had aircraft parked on his left side, a Cherokee approaching from the 1 o'clock position, and a Twin Otter approaching from the 4 o'clock position. As he neared the spot where he planned to conduct his run-up he saw the Cessna. He shut down his engine and applied the brakes but was unable to stop before hitting the Cessna. His right wing scraped the bottom of the Cessna wing. His propeller struck its right horizontal stabilizer and elevator causing substantial damage. The Piper sustained minor damage to its propeller. The Piper pilot stated he had thoroughly scanned the run-up area and did not see the Cessna. He felt it had either blended in with the background or was in a blind spot.

The Cessna TR182 had been in the run-up area approximately 2 minutes conducting pretakeoff checks. It was on an easterly heading on the first run-up marker. The pilot of the Piper J3, who was in the rear seat, was going to conduct a run-up prior to taking the aircraft in for annual inspection. As he was taxiing north to the run-up area, he had aircraft parked on his left side, a Cherokee approaching from the 1 o'clock position, and a Twin Otter approaching from the 4 o'clock position. As he neared the spot where he planned to conduct his run-up he saw the Cessna. He shut down his engine and applied the brakes but was unable to stop before hitting the Cessna. His right wing scraped the bottom of the Cessna wing. His propeller struck its right horizontal stabilizer and elevator causing substantial damage. The Piper sustained minor damage to its propeller. The Piper pilot stated he had thoroughly scanned the run-up area and did not see the Cessna. He felt it had either blended in with the background or was in a blind spot.

Factual narrative

On December 27, 1998, about 1630 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N87714, collided with the elevator and horizontal stabilizer of a Cessna TR182, N882WS, in the run-up area of the North Las Vegas, Nevada, airport. Each aircraft was being operated by its private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The Cessna was preparing to depart for St. George, Utah, where an annual inspection was to be completed. The Piper was not intending to fly. Its owner was going to perform an engine run-up prior to maintenance. Neither pilot was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the Cessna pilot did not file a flight plan. The Piper sustained minor damage; the Cessna sustained substantial damage.

The Cessna pilot had been parked on the first run-up marker for approximately 2 minutes conducting the takeoff checklist. His aircraft was on a heading of approximately 090 degrees. The Piper pilot, who occupied the rear seat, came out of the hangar area west of the tower and proceeded in a northerly direction toward the run-up area. There were airplanes parked on his left side, a Cherokee approaching him from the 1 o'clock position, and a Twin Otter approaching from his 4 o'clock position. As he neared the spot where he intended to do his run-up, he saw the Cessna. He shut off his engine and hit the brakes but was unable to avoid the Cessna. The pilot stated that he had thoroughly scanned the run-up area, but did not see the airplane. He believes it either blended in with the hangars behind it or was in a blind spot.

The right wing of the Piper was lightly scratched when it went under the right wing of the Cessna. However, the propeller struck the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the Cessna TR182 causing substantial damage.

On December 27, 1998, about 1630 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N87714, collided with the elevator and horizontal stabilizer of a Cessna TR182, N882WS, in the run-up area of the North Las Vegas, Nevada, airport. Each aircraft was being operated by its private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The Cessna was preparing to depart for St. George, Utah, where an annual inspection was to be completed. The Piper was not intending to fly. Its owner was going to perform an engine run-up prior to maintenance. Neither pilot was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the Cessna pilot did not file a flight plan. The Piper sustained minor damage; the Cessna sustained substantial damage.

The Cessna pilot had been parked on the first run-up marker for approximately 2 minutes conducting the takeoff checklist. His aircraft was on a heading of approximately 090 degrees. The Piper pilot, who occupied the rear seat, came out of the hangar area west of the tower and proceeded in a northerly direction toward the run-up area. There were airplanes parked on his left side, a Cherokee approaching him from the 1 o'clock position, and a Twin Otter approaching from his 4 o'clock position. As he neared the spot where he intended to do his run-up, he saw the Cessna. He shut off his engine and hit the brakes but was unable to avoid the Cessna. The pilot stated that he had thoroughly scanned the run-up area, but did not see the airplane. He believes it either blended in with the hangars behind it or was in a blind spot.

The right wing of the Piper was lightly scratched when it went under the right wing of the Cessna. However, the propeller struck the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the Cessna TR182 causing substantial damage.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N87714
Reported as
Piper J3C-65
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15372
Airframe hours
2,774
Engine
Continental C-75-12F, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Lynn King
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 26, 1997 · 151 hours before
Departed
VGT
Airport
VGT · North Las Vegas

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
N882WS
Reported as
Cessna TR182
Category
Airplane
Serial number
18200835
Airframe hours
2,100
Engine
Lycoming O-540-L3C5D, 235 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Jesse Ferrer
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · December 1, 1997 · 50 hours before
Departed
VGT
Destination
SGU · St. George, UT
Airport
VGT · North Las Vegas

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N87714
Age
36
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
1,767 total · 1,091 in this make and model · 1,660 as pilot in command
Role
Pilot, aircraft N882WS
Age
36
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
705 total · 455 in this make and model · 705 as pilot in command · 42 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 5 knots
Visibility
25 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
54 °F, dew point 14 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
VGT

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.