# NTSB LAX99LA059: Piper J3C-65, N87714, North Las Vegas, NV, December 28, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 27, 1998, 16:30 local (Dec 28, 1998, 00:30 UTC) - Place: North Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.2401, -115.229454 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2401&lon=-115.2295&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45525 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45525/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA059 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) Failure of the pilot-in-command of the other aircraft to see and avoid the stationary Cessna TR182. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) Failure of the pilot-in-command to determine the taxiway was clear and to see and avoid the stationary Cessna TR182. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - object - aircraft parked/standing - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - to takeoff - object - aircraft parked/standing - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 (aircraft 2) 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. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: [N87714](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N87714), registered now, S/N 15372 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3C-65 - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15372 - Airframe hours: 2774 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N882WS (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna TR182 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18200835 - Airframe hours: 2100 - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N87714; age 36; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N882WS; age 36; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19981227044281A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981227044281A), Dec 27, 1998: Piper J3C65, Las Vegas, NV, Minor damage. (.19) 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… - [Accident 19981227044282A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981227044282A), Dec 27, 1998: Cessna TR182, Las Vegas, NV, Substantial damage. (.4) 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… 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.