# NTSB NYC04LA194: Piper PA-28-151, N6816J, Philadelphia, PA, August 17, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2004, 08:31 local (12:31 UTC) - Place: Philadelphia, PA - Coordinates: 40.081665, -75.010559 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0817&lon=-75.0106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 59932 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC04LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59932/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC04LA194 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of RV-6A and his failure to maintain clearance while taxiing, which resulted in an on-ground collision with the Piper. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), taxi - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The pilot of the Piper contacted the ground controller and was cleared to taxi from the ramp area, to the active runway. The pilot of RV-6A also contacted the ground controller from the same ramp area, and was instructed to follow the Piper to the active runway. The RV-6A pilot looked out his left window and directly ahead, and did not observe the Piper. As the RV-6A began to taxi, the propeller struck the left wing of the Piper as it passed in front of the RV-6A from the right. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On August 17, 2004, at 0831 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-28-151, N6816J, was substantially damaged when it was struck by another airplane, a homebuilt RV-6A, N181A, while both airplanes were taxing at the North Philadelphia Airport (PNE), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The RV-6A received minor damage during the collision. There were no injuries to either the certificated commercial pilot of the Piper, or the certificated commercial pilot of the RV-6A. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for either airplane. Both airplanes were on local flights conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot of the Piper, he had contacted the ground controller and was cleared to taxi from the Jet Center ramp area, to runway 24. Shortly afterwards, the pilot heard the pilot of the RV-6A contact the ground controller. The RV-6A pilot was instructed to taxi to runway 24 and that he would be taxiing behind another airplane. As the Piper pilot continued to taxi, he passed the RV-6A, which subsequently taxied into the left wing of the Piper. According to the RV-6A pilot, he contacted the ground controller to request taxi instructions, and was instructed to taxi to runway 24, following a Piper. The RV-6A pilot looked out his left window and directly ahead, and did not observe the Piper. As the RV-6A began to taxi, the propeller struck the left wing of the Piper as it passed in front of the RV-6A from the right. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N6816J (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28-151 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7615365 - Airframe hours: 4521 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Soliman Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 26, 2004, 52 hours before - Departed: PNE, Philadelphia, PA - Airport: PNE, Northeast Philadelphia Airport ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N181A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N181A), registered now, S/N 60280, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Buchmann RV-6A - Registry model: [Buchmann Oscar A VANS RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/buchmann-oscar-a-vans-rv-6a) (registry code 0561545) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 60280 - Airframe hours: 114 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Oscar A. Buchmann - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 4, 2003, 114 hours before - Departed: PNE, Philadelphia, PA - Airport: PNE, Northeast Philadelphia Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N6816J; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 14, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 11,050 total, 10,000 as pilot in command, 72 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N181A; age 73; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 23, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 1,604 total, 160 in this make and model, 1,557 as pilot in command, 106 in the last 90 days, 47 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: PNE ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040817022141A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040817022141A), Aug 17, 2004: Piper PA28151, Philadelphia, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) According to a FAA tower tape and pilot statement: N6816J was initially cleared to taxi from the ramp (non movement area) to the taxiway. The aircraft… - [Accident 20040817022142A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040817022142A), Aug 17, 2004: Amtr VANSRV6A, Philadelphia, PA, Substantial damage. (-23) According to FAA tower tape and statements, N181A (RV-6A) was cleared to follow N6816J (PA28-151) in a non-movement area. N181A propeller struck the left… 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.