# NTSB MKC89LA189: Consolidated-Vultee BT-13A, N63884, Kansas City, MO, August 27, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 27, 1989, 13:28 local (18:28 UTC)
- Place: Kansas City, MO
- Coordinates: 38.850353, -94.550819 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8504&lon=-94.5508&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 34857
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC89LA189
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/34857/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC89LA189

## Probable cause

INADEQUATE CONTROL TOWER SERVICE PROVIDED BY TOWER PERSONNEL, AND INADEQUATE REMEDIAL ACTION BY THE VEHICLE DRIVER. THE PILOT'S LACK OF VISUAL LOOKOUT WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi
  - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - vehicle
  - remedial action - inadequate, driver of vehicle (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS GIVING 'RIDES' TO THE OWNER'S FAMILY. HE STOPPED IN A NORTHERLY DRCTN AT/NEAR THE RGT SIDE OF THE TWY TO CHANGE PASSENGERS (PAX). AFTER THE PAX CHANGE, HE CONTACTED GND CTL & OBTAINED CLNC TO TAXI FOR ANOTHER TAKEOFF. HE HAD LIMITED FWD VISIBILITY IN THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED ACFT. TO TAXI, HE ELECTED TO ANGLE THE ACFT TO THE LEFT ONTO THE TWY, THEN TURN RGT TO S-TURN & CLR HIMSELF DWN THE TWY. AS HE BGN TAXIING, 2 CAMOUFLAGED TUGS WITH AMMO TRAILERS WERE COMING DOWN THE TWY FM THE OPPOSITE DRCTN. AS THE ACFT ANGLED ONTO THE TWY, THE RELATIVE PSN OF THE VEHICLES REMAINED OFF THE NOSE OF THE ACFT & THE PLT DID NOT SEE THEM. THE 1ST VEHICLE DRIVER STOPPED & TRIED TO CONTACT GND CTL. HE THEN TRIED TOTAKE EVASIVE ACTN, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT'S LEFT WING HIT THE 1ST VEHICLE & THE PROP HIT THE AMMO TRAILER. THE ACDNT OCCURRED ON A JOINT-USE MILITARY/CIVILIAN ARPT. THE PLT & VEHICLE DRIVERS WERE UNDER JURISDICTION OF GND CTL & IN VIEW OF THE CTL TWR. THE OPERG PROCEDURES HAD MILITARY & CIVILIAN TRAFFIC ON DIFFERENT FREQS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N63884](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63884), registered now, S/N 1833, built 1941 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Consolidated-Vultee BT-13A
- Registry model: [Consolidated Vultee BT-13A](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-vultee-bt-13a) (registry code 2420224) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1833
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN3 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: J.L. Mccullough
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: GVW
- Airport: GVW, Richards Gebaur, runway 18, 9,000 × 150 ft, macadam

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 65; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 14,205 total, 608 in this make and model, 13,895 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: GVW, 1 nm away

## 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 19890827032209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890827032209A), Aug 27, 1989: Cvac BT13A, Kansas City, MO, Substantial damage. Struck military ammunition trailer on taxiway taxiing for takeoff. BT13 is blind forward. Tower failed to alert.

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.

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