SEA00IA007

NTSB incident investigation · Cessna 172P · Wenatchee, WA · October 23, 1999

Incident · No injuriesIncident investigationFinal report
Date
October 23, 1999, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC)
Place
Wenatchee, WA
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N54844Cessna 172PN811KMKenneth Miller RV-6A
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 21, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
47696

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.

On this page

Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

The failure of the pilots in both aircraft to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Haze was a factor.

The failure of the pilots in both aircraft to maintain an adequate visual lookout. Haze was a factor.

Analysis

The flight instructor in the Cessna reported that the student was under the hood for the practice VOR approach. The flight was tracking inbound heading 285 degrees. About six miles from the airport, approximately 3,800 feet, and just prior to the final approach fix, the flight instructor was just about to announce their location when they felt a bump. The flight instructor did not see what they had collided with, and realized shortly thereafter that it was another aircraft. The pilot of the RV-6A, reported that he had just taken off from the airport and was climbing to cruise altitude on an easterly heading, when he suddenly saw the Cessna directly ahead and in his flight path. The pilot immediately pushed the nose down in a rapid descending right turn. The left wing tip of the RV-6A came up and collided with the bottom side of the Cessna's right wing tip. Both pilots reported that the weather was clear with haze. Both aircraft returned to the airport and landed without further incident.

The flight instructor in the Cessna reported that the student was under the hood for the practice VOR approach. The flight was tracking inbound heading 285 degrees. About six miles from the airport, approximately 3,800 feet, and just prior to the final approach fix, the flight instructor was just about to announce their location when they felt a bump. The flight instructor did not see what they had collided with, and realized shortly thereafter that it was another aircraft. The pilot of the RV-6A, reported that he had just taken off from the airport and was climbing to cruise altitude on an easterly heading, when he suddenly saw the Cessna directly ahead and in his flight path. The pilot immediately pushed the nose down in a rapid descending right turn. The left wing tip of the RV-6A came up and collided with the bottom side of the Cessna's right wing tip. Both pilots reported that the weather was clear with haze. Both aircraft returned to the airport and landed without further incident.

Factual narrative

On October 23, 1999, at 1320 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N54844, registered to and operated by Wings of Wenatchee, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, and a RV-6A, N811KM, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided in mid-air about six miles east of Pangborn Memorial airport, Wenatchee, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan was filed by the Cessna. The pilot of the RV-6A had filed a VFR flight plan, but had not yet opened it prior to the collision. Both aircraft received minor damage. Neither the flight instructor or private pilot in the Cessna nor the private pilot in the RV-6A were injured. The Cessna had departed from Wenatchee about one hour prior to the collision for the local instructional flight. The RV-6A had just taken off from Wenatchee, and was en route to Joseph, Oregon.

The flight instructor in the Cessna reported that the private pilot was working on his instrument rating and was under the hood practicing the VOR-A approach to Wenatchee. The aircraft was flying an inbound course of 285 degrees. At about 3,800 feet, just prior to Malaga final approach fix, and about six miles from the airport, the flight instructor was just about to announce their location and intentions on the Pangborn CTAF frequency (123.0) when they felt a bump. The flight instructor stated that he never saw or heard the other aircraft.

The pilot of the RV-6A reported that he had announced his departure from runway 30 on CTAF frequency 123.0. After takeoff, the pilot made a right turn and headed easterly, climbing to 9,500 feet. The pilot stated that at about 4,000 to 5,000 feet, and about six miles from the airport, he suddenly saw the Cessna directly ahead and in his flight path. The pilot immediately pushed the nose down hard in a rapid descending right turn. The left wing tip of the RV-6A came up and collided with the bottom side of the Cessna's right wing tip.

Both aircraft received minor damage to their wing tips, and were able to land at Wenatchee without further incident.

On October 23, 1999, at 1320 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna 172P, N54844, registered to and operated by Wings of Wenatchee, as a 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight, and a RV-6A, N811KM, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided in mid-air about six miles east of Pangborn Memorial airport, Wenatchee, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan was filed by the Cessna. The pilot of the RV-6A had filed a VFR flight plan, but had not yet opened it prior to the collision. Both aircraft received minor damage. Neither the flight instructor or private pilot in the Cessna nor the private pilot in the RV-6A were injured. The Cessna had departed from Wenatchee about one hour prior to the collision for the local instructional flight. The RV-6A had just taken off from Wenatchee, and was en route to Joseph, Oregon.

The flight instructor in the Cessna reported that the private pilot was working on his instrument rating and was under the hood practicing the VOR-A approach to Wenatchee. The aircraft was flying an inbound course of 285 degrees. At about 3,800 feet, just prior to Malaga final approach fix, and about six miles from the airport, the flight instructor was just about to announce their location and intentions on the Pangborn CTAF frequency (123.0) when they felt a bump. The flight instructor stated that he never saw or heard the other aircraft.

The pilot of the RV-6A reported that he had announced his departure from runway 30 on CTAF frequency 123.0. After takeoff, the pilot made a right turn and headed easterly, climbing to 9,500 feet. The pilot stated that at about 4,000 to 5,000 feet, and about six miles from the airport, he suddenly saw the Cessna directly ahead and in his flight path. The pilot immediately pushed the nose down hard in a rapid descending right turn. The left wing tip of the RV-6A came up and collided with the bottom side of the Cessna's right wing tip.

Both aircraft received minor damage to their wing tips, and were able to land at Wenatchee without further incident.

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.

Midair collisionApproach
Weather condition - haze/smokeFactor
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Midair collisionClimb
Weather condition - haze/smokeFactor
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N54844
Reported as
Cessna 172P
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17275065
Airframe hours
8,737
Engine
Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
Wings Of Wenatchee
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 6, 1999 · 31 hours before
Departed
EAT

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
N811KM
Reported as
Kenneth Miller RV-6A
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
60008
Airframe hours
108
Engine
GM V-6, 219 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Kenneth J. Miller
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · June 27, 1999 · 33 hours before
Departed
EAT · WA
Destination
4S3 · Joseph, OR
Flight plan
VFR

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 N54844
Age
68
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
514 total · 433 in this make and model · 263 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft N811KM
Age
61
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
287 total · 100 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
57 °F, dew point 41 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
EAT, 6 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.