- Date
- January 29, 1999, 16:01 local (Jan 30, 1999, 00:01 UTC)
- Place
- Madera, CA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N6979GCessna 150LN770RFCoelho RV4
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 30, 2000
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19990129001182A19990129001181A
- Case key
- 45709
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's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and to see the stationary airplane on the taxiway ahead.
The pilot of the other airplane's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and to see the airplane stopped on the taxiway ahead.
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
A Coelho RV4, N770RF, collided with a Cessna 150L, N6979G, while taxiing for takeoff. The Cessna 150L was stopped on the parallel taxiway waiting for departure behind two other airplanes. The Cessna's pilot reported that the run-up area was congested and she did not believe there was enough room to safely pull into the area. While waiting on the taxiway, the propeller of a RV4 struck the tail section of her aircraft. The pilot of N770RF (a conventional gear airplane) stated that he was performing 'S' turns on the parallel taxiway while taxiing out for departure and did not notice the Cessna stopped on the taxiway.
A Coelho RV4, N770RF, collided with a Cessna 150L, N6979G, while taxiing for takeoff. The Cessna 150L was stopped on the parallel taxiway waiting for departure behind two other airplanes. The Cessna's pilot reported that the run-up area was congested and she did not believe there was enough room to safely pull into the area. While waiting on the taxiway, the propeller of a RV4 struck the tail section of her aircraft. The pilot of N770RF (a conventional gear airplane) stated that he was performing 'S' turns on the parallel taxiway while taxiing out for departure and did not notice the Cessna stopped on the taxiway.
Factual narrative
See narrative for LAX99LA086A.
On January 29, 1999, at 1601 hours Pacific standard time, a Coelho RV4, N770RF, collided with a Cessna 150L, N6979G, while taxiing for takeoff at the Madera, California, airport. The Cessna 150L was stationary on the parallel taxiway of runway 30 conducting a pre-takeoff engine and systems check. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The Cessna 150L was owned and operated by Madera County Aircrafters and rented by the pilot for a local area personal flight. The Coelho RV4 was owned and operated by Rocket Factory, Inc., and was also departing for a local area personal flight. Both aircraft were operated under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The Cessna 150L was destroyed and the Coelho RV4 sustained minor propeller damage. Neither of the pilots, the sole occupants of their respective aircraft, were injured. Both aircraft were originating at the time of the on-ground collision.
According to a statement from the pilot of the Cessna 150L, she was stopped on the parallel taxiway waiting for departure behind a C172 and an ultralight aircraft. She reported that the run-up area was congested and she did not believe there was enough room to safely pull into the area. While waiting on the taxiway, the propeller of a RV4 struck the tail section of her aircraft.
The pilot of N770RF (a conventional gear airplane) stated that he was performing "S" turns on the parallel taxiway while taxiing out for departure and did not notice the Cessna stopped on the taxiway.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N6979G
- Reported as
- Cessna 150L
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15072479
- Airframe hours
- 7,158
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Madera County Aircrafters, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1998 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- MAE
- Airport
- MAE · Madera Municipal Airport, runway 30, 4,544 × 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
- N770RF
- Reported as
- Coelho RV4
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 773889
- Airframe hours
- 60
- Engines
- Lycoming IO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocatingLycoming IO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James J. Coehlo
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 19, 1998 · 60 hours before
- Departed
- MAF
- Airport
- MAE · Madera Municipal Airport, runway 30, 4,544 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N6979G
- Age
- 56
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 806 total · 404 in this make and model · 511 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N770RF
- Age
- 51
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,000 total · 90 in this make and model · 1,900 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FAT
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.