- Date
- June 14, 1987, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Towanda, PA
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 16, 1989
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 30672
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
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 Taylorcraft, N43978, collided with the tail of Piper, N4889L while both were taxiing to rwy 22. The plt of the Taylorcraft stated that he was taxiing parallel to the rwy and the Piper came from behind and to the left to cross in front of him. The plt of the Piper stated that he was taxiing parallel to the rwy when the Taylorcraft ran into the right rear part of his acft.
During taxi to rwy 22 for takeoff, Piper aircraft N4889L was struck in the tail section by a Taylorcraft, N43978 as it was also taxiing for takeoff. The pilot of the Taylorcraft stated that the Piper crossed in front of him while the pilot of the Piper claimed he was taxiing parallel to the rwy when struck by the Taylorcraft.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N4889L
- Reported as
- Piper PA-28-180
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 28-4255
- Airframe hours
- 1,495
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A3A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Andrew C. Monroe
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 16, 1987
- Destination
- ELM · Elmira, NY
- Airport
- N27 · Towanda, runway 22, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- N43978
- Reported as
- Taylorcraft BC-12D
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 7637
- Airframe hours
- 592
- Engine
- Continental A65, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- K. W. Kleinendorst
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 29, 1987
- Airport
- N27 · Towanda, runway 22, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt
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 N4889L
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Unknown, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 166 total · 83 in this make and model · 128 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N43978
- Age
- 57
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 113 total · 5 in this make and model · 74 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F