# NTSB MIA98LA111: Steen Skybolt, N101DT, Sanford, FL, March 29, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 29, 1998, 15:57 local (20:57 UTC) - Place: Sanford, FL - Coordinates: 28.8097, -81.329757 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8097&lon=-81.3298&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38479 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38479/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA111 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The failure of the pilot of N101DT to maintain a visual lookout during the taxi phase of his flight and the failure of the ground controller to issue a traffic advisory to N101DT about the location of N6285M. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The failure of the pilot of N101DT to maintain a visual lookout during the taxi phase of his flight and the failure of the ground controller to issue a traffic advisory to N101DT about the location of N6285M. ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The Cessna trainer was stopped, holding short of the inner parallel runway, waiting takeoff clearance from that runway. The airplane was completely on the right side, (headed toward the runway) of the taxiway centerline. The biplane's left wing collided with the Cessna as he was taxiing back to his base after landing. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) After landing and clearing the outer parallel runway, the biplane pilot was directed by the ground controller to taxi across the inner parallel runway, 'without delay'. The biplane pilot complied with the instructions and his airplane collided with a Cessna trainer who was holding short on the taxiway waiting takeoff clearance from the inner parallel runway. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) Narrative same as MIA98LA111A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On March 29, 1998, about 1557 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Steen Skybolt, N101DT, registered to an individual, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, taxied into a Cessna 152, N6285M, registered to Comair Flight Academy, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, as he was returning to the ramp after landing at Orlando's Sanford Field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for either flight. No injuries were reported from either airplane, and both airplanes received substantial damage. The Skybolt flight originated from Sanford Field about 43 minutes before the accident. According to transcripts of communications by FAA Sanford Tower Ground Control, the Skybolt landed and cleared runway 9L onto a connecting taxiway when he was given instructions to cross runway 9R, "without delay". The Skybolt was on ground control frequency. At the far side of the same taxiway, south of runway 9R, was the Cessna waiting takeoff clearance, monitoring tower frequency, oriented headed northwest with the nose close to the taxiway centerline. The Skybolt's left wing collided with the Cessna's propeller, causing the Skybolt to rotate 90 degrees into the left wing of the Cessna. Neither airplane was given traffic advisories as to the respective location of the other by FAA Sanford Tower. According to the Skybolt pilot's statements, in referring to his forward visibility from the rear seat of his tailwheel configured biplane, "All forward vision while on the ground must be accomplished with "S" turns and the blocked area of vision is considerable." Referring to his taxi speed as he crossed 9R, he stated, "At this speed it is not safe to "S" turn in a Skybolt, in my opinion." Referring to his location as he taxied, "I was keeping to the right side of taxiway Lima as I always keep to the right side of all taxiways at Sanford Airport". The collision happened near the center-line of the 75 foot wide taxiway. The Skybolt's wing span is 24 feet. On April 21, 1998, during telephone follow-up to the investigation of the accident, the Skybolt pilot made the comment, "I'm in a tail-dragger. I gotta' trust..." as he was denigrating the performance of the ground controller that day. The pilot's written statement also refers to the, "bad instructions by the ground controller", in that, "I would never have even considered crossing the runway without "S" turning if the controller hadn't implied to me that it was clear of traffic." According to the Cessna pilot's statements, she was holding short to the south of runway 9R on taxiway "L", and was monitoring tower frequency in anticipation of a clearance to takeoff. The Skybolt was on ground control frequency, and therefore she did not hear what clearance he was given. She further stated, "I believe that the collision was a result of the ground controller giving instructions without first assuring that the area was clear. In addition, the pilot of the tailwheel aircraft was taxiing in a manner that did not allow him to see ahead of him and he was at such a high speed that he was unable to stop once we were spotted." FAR Title 14 CFR Part 91, Chapter 3, states, "The pilot in command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to, the operation of that aircraft." Air Traffic Control handbook 7110.65 describes the tower positions, local control or ground control as, "That position which is in direct communications with the aircraft and ensures separation of aircraft in/on the area of jurisdiction." Section 3-1-6 "Traffic Information" of 7110.65, paragraph "A" instructs controllers to describe vehicles, equipment, or personnel in a manner that will assist pilots in recognizing them. One of the examples listed was, "Aircraft left of runway one eight." Paragraph "B" tells controllers to describe the relative position of traffic in an easy to understand manner, such as "to your right" or "ahead of you". ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - from landing - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), standing - engine(s) operating - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N101DT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N101DT), registered now, S/N 1, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEEN SKYBOLT - Registry model: [Thrift-Dale SKYBOLT-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/thrift-dale-skybolt-1) (registry code 05655R5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming HIO-360-C1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-hio-360-c1a) (registry code 41889, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 543 - Engines: Lycoming HIO-360-C1A 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffrey S. Sexton - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 24, 1997, 17 hours before - Departed: SFB - Airport: SFB, Orlando Sanford ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N6258M (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Cessna C-152 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15284653 - Airframe hours: 7393 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Comair Aviation Academy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 1998, 28 hours before - Airport: SFB, Orlando Sanford, runway 9R, 3,578 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N101DT; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,100 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days - Pilot, aircraft N6258M; age 24; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 728 total, 450 in this make and model, 659 as pilot in command, 240 in the last 90 days, 109 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SFB ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980329004431A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980329004431A), Mar 29, 1998: Amtr SKYBOLTI, Orlando, FL, Substantial damage. Tower had pilot expidite crossing runway. Taxied into N6285M holding short on other side. View limited over nose. (-23) Cessna 152, N6285M was holding short,… 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.