NYC97LA181

Both airplanes departed the same airport at approximately 1300 Eastern Daylight Time, and flew to the same destination. Both pilots were using hand held radios, which were ineffective above idle RPM. One pilot landed on Runway 23, and the other pilot landed on Runway 5. During the landing rollout, the pilots attempted to avoid a collision, but the left wing of each airplane collided. Both pilots reported the winds to be calm.

On September 14, 1997, about 1400 Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), a Boeing Stearman PT-17, N64604, and a Fairchild PT-19, N49830, collided during the landing rollout at the Geneseo Airport, Geneseo, New York. Both airplanes, owned and operated by The National Warplane Museum, were substantially damaged. The certificated private pilot of each airplane was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and both flights originated at Elmira, New York, about 1300 EDT. No flight plan had been filed for either flight, and both flights were conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In a written statement, the pilot of the PT-19 said:

"...The wind sock showed the wind to be negligible, so after crossing the airport , I entered a downwind for a right hand approach to runway 23. As I flew my base leg and final approach, I did not see any other aircraft...[I] touched down about a quarter of the way down the runway. On rollout...I suddenly spotted the PT-17 in front of me. I punched the right rudder to swing out of the way, but during the turn, the aircraft collided, damaging the left wings of both planes."

In a written statement, the pilot of the PT-17 said:

"...I observed the winds to be close to calm. I selected runway 5, made a standard approach. On rollout I collided with the PT-19, which upon review had landed on runway 23."

Neither airplane was equipped with two way radio communication. The pilots were using hand held radios, which were ineffective above idle RPM. The winds were reported at an airport approximately twenty miles away to be from 280 degrees at five knots.