MIA94LA023

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-60 · Orlando, FL · November 15, 1993

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 15, 1993, 07:18 local (12:18 UTC)
Place
Orlando, FL
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N91WWPiper PA-60N1753VCessna 172M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 13, 1994
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
37459

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-in-command of the other aircraft to maintain a visual lookout and clearance between aircraft.

The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain visual lookout and clearance between aircraft.

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.

On ground/water collision with objectTaxi
Object - aircraft parked/standing
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
On ground/water collision with objectStanding - engine(s) operating
Object - aircraft moving on ground
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

The pilot stated while parked in the engine runup area adjacent to runway 07, he heard an engine that sounded like it was doing a runup. He looked towards the sound and observed a Piper Aerostar taxiing right at him. The Aerostar pilot was looking down instead of outside. He attempted to move his airplane out of the way, but the Aerostar collided with his airplane.

While taxiing to the engine runup area adjacent to runway 07, the pilot observed two other airplanes parked one behind the other in the runup area. The pilot stated ground fog was present and the sun was directly in his eyes. As he taxied into the runup area, he collided with the second airplane. The pilot of the other airplane stated the pilot of N91WW was observed looking down inside his airplane when the collision occurred. Official sunrise was 06:52 and there was light fog in the area.

Factual narrative

Same as narrative MIA94LA023A.

On November 15, 1993, at about 0718 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-60, N91WW, registered to Cherokee Leasing Inc., operating as a 14 CFR part 135 on-demand air taxi flight collided with a Cessna 172, N1753V, registered to Flight Express Inc., operating as a 14 CFR part 91 aerial observation flight, while taxiing. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage. Both commercial pilots and one passenger in the Cessna 172 were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An IFR flight plan was filed by the Cherokee Express pilot, and no flight plan was filed by the Flight Express pilot. Both flights were originating at Orlando Executive Airport.

The pilot-in-command of the Cherokee Express airplane stated in an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he observed two Cessna airplanes in the runup area for runway 07 as he was taxiing to the same runup area. The Cessna airplanes had their engines running, and were parked one behind the other. Upon entering the runup area the pilot stated there was some ground fog and the sun was directly in his eyes. The pilot observed a Cessna airplane which he thought was the front airplane, which in reality was the rear airplane. He continued to turn and collided with the airplane.

The pilot-in-command of the Flight Express airplane stated in a written statement, I was parked in the ramp area waiting for takeoff clearance clear of taxiway golf. I heard an engine that sounded like it was doing a runup. I saw an Aerostar coming right at me. I saw the pilot looking down and the left prop coming right for my left wing and fuel tank. At this time I tried to move away from the Aerostar to prevent impact. The Aerostar never stopped and ran right into me.

The nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was on the Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando, Florida. There were no reported restrictions to visibility at the time of the accident. Review of sun and moon information for the Orlando Executive Airport, revealed official sunrise was at 06:52.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N91WW
Reported as
Piper PA-60
Category
Airplane
Serial number
60-0262-105
Airframe hours
4,550
Engine
Lycoming IO-540K-1F5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Registered owner
Cherokee Leasing Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · November 14, 1993 · 0 hours before
Departed
ORL
Destination
TLH · Tallahassee, FL
Flight plan
IFR
Airport
ORL · Orlando Executive Airport

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
N1753V
Reported as
Cessna 172M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17263738
Airframe hours
8,752
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial observation · Part 91
Registered owner
Flight Express Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
Last inspection
100 hour · October 23, 1993 · 10 hours before
Departed
ORL
Destination
ORL
Airport
ORL · Orlando Executive Airport

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 N91WW
Age
29
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,712 total · 99 in this make and model · 2,455 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 165 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N1753V
Age
23
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,030 total · 250 in this make and model · 840 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
80° at 4 knots
Visibility
3 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
68 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ORL, 1 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.