- Date
- January 4, 2003, 14:25 local (19:25 UTC)
- Place
- Melbourne, FL
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N57318North American AT-6AN522FCessna 172K
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 26, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20030104007011A
- Case key
- 56281
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 failure of the pilot of the North American AT6A, N57318 to maintain a proper visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in him impacting the rear of the Cessna 172K, N522F.
The failure of the pilot of the North American AT6A, N57318 to maintain a proper visual lookout while taxiing, which resulted in him impacting the rear of the Cessna 172K, N522F.
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
The pilot of N57318, a North American AT6A, said that he had landed on runway 27L, and had been told to hold short of runway 27R. He said that the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower controller told the pilot of the N522F, a Cessna 172K, to taxi to the ramp, and that his airplane has restricted visibility and that suddenly and unexpectedly the Cessna appeared on the taxiway ahead of him and he collided with it. The pilot of the North American stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to his airplane or any of its systems. The pilot of the Cessna stated that after landing on runway 27R, he turned on taxiway Q, crossed the hold short line, and came to a complete stop in order to complete the after landing checklist, and the North American impacted the tail of his airplane. The FAA Air Traffic Controller stated that the North American landed on runway 27L and turned off at runway Q, and the pilot of the North American was instructed to hold short of runway 27R. He said the Cessna landed on runway 27R and after landing was instructed to turn right at "Q" and taxi to parking. When the Cessna had turned off the runway, he said he then instructed the North American to taxi to cross runway 27R and taxi to parking, and within a few moments the collision occurred. One of the witnesses stated that she saw the North American run into the back of the Cessna, and further stated that she did not see the North American engaged in any "S-turn" maneuvers as it was being taxied.
The pilot of N57318, a North American AT6A, said that he had landed on runway 27L, and had been told to hold short of runway 27R. He said that the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower controller told the pilot of the N522F, a Cessna 172K, to taxi to the ramp, and that his airplane has restricted visibility and that suddenly and unexpectedly the Cessna appeared on the taxiway ahead of him and he collided with it. The pilot of the North American stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to his airplane or any of its systems. The pilot of the Cessna stated that after landing on runway 27R, he turned on taxiway Q, crossed the hold short line, and came to a complete stop in order to complete the after landing checklist, and the North American impacted the tail of his airplane. The FAA Air Traffic Controller stated that the North American landed on runway 27L and turned off at runway Q, and the pilot of the North American was instructed to hold short of runway 27R. He said the Cessna landed on runway 27R and after landing was instructed to turn right at "Q" and taxi to parking. When the Cessna had turned off the runway, he said he then instructed the North American to taxi to cross runway 27R and taxi to parking, and within a few moments the collision occurred. One of the witnesses stated that she saw the North American run into the back of the Cessna, and further stated that she did not see the North American engaged in any "S-turn" maneuvers as it was being taxied.
Factual narrative
Same as for MIA03LA038A.
On January 4, 2003, about 1425 eastern standard time, a North American AT-6A, N57318, registered to and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, and a Cessna 172K, N522F, registered to Spectrum Aviation, Inc., and operated by a private individual as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided on a taxiway after both landed at Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for either aircraft. N57318, a North American AT6A, incurred minor damage, and N522F, a Cessna 172K, incurred substantial damage. Neither the commercial-rated pilot of the North American, nor the private-rated pilot or passenger of Cessna were injured. The North American originated from Melbourne about 1 hour before the accident, and the Cessna originated from Daytona Beach about 40 minutes before the accident.
The pilot of the North American stated that he had landed on runway 27L and had been told to hold short of runway 27R. He further stated that the FAA Air Traffic Control Tower controller told the pilot of the Cessna to taxi to the ramp. He said that he was then cleared to parking on the tower frequency, and added that the North American has restricted visibility and that suddenly and unexpectedly the Cessna appeared on the taxiway ahead of him, and he collided with it. The pilot of the North American AT6 stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to his airplane or any of its systems.
The pilot of the Cessna stated that after landing on runway 27R at Melbourne International Airport, Melbourne, Florida, he turned on taxiway Q and crossed the hold short line and came to a complete stop in order to complete the "after landing checklist." He further stated that the North American impacted the tail of his airplane driving him forward about 5 feet.
The FAA Air Traffic Controller stated that the North American landed on runway 27L and turned off at runway Q. He said the North American was instructed to hold short of runway 27R. The Cessna landed on runway 27R and after landing was instructed to turn right at "Q" and taxi to parking. The controller further stated that when the Cessna had turned off the runway, he then instructed the North American to taxi to cross runway 27R and taxi to parking, and within a few moments the collision occurred.
One of the witnesses stated that she saw the North American run into the back of the Cessna, and further stated that she did not see the North American engaged in any "S-turn" maneuvers as it was being taxied.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N57318
- Reported as
- North American AT-6A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 78-6680
- Airframe hours
- 4,662
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Randall S. Difani
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 10, 2002 · 46 hours before
- Departed
- MLB · Melbourne, FL
- Destination
- MLB
- Airport
- MLB · Melborne International
- Registration
- N522F
- Reported as
- Cessna 172K
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17258510
- Airframe hours
- 7,275
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Spectrum Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 9, 2002 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- DAB · Daytona Beach, FL
- Destination
- MLB · Melbourne, FL
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- MLB · Melborne International
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 N57318
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- January 4, 2001
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 1,729 total · 1,342 in this make and model · 1,662 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N522F
- Age
- 19
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Last flight review
- May 3, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 123 total · 123 in this make and model · 86 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 300° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 57 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- MLB
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.