SEA07LA081

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna T210N · Livermore, CA · March 24, 2007

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 23, 2007, 17:15 local (Mar 24, 2007, 00:15 UTC)
Place
Livermore, CA
Injuries
5 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N4644UCessna T210NN360JPSukhoi SU-29
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 30, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
Case key
65512

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

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from another aircraft holding on the taxiway while taxiing from landing. The pilot's inadequate visual lookout was a factor.

The failure of the pilot in the other aircraft to maintain clearance from a holding aircraft while taxiing from landing. Inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of the other aircraft was a factor.

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.

Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - from landing
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftFactor
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause
Collision between aircraft (other than midair)Taxi - from landing
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandFactor
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The pilot of the Cessna T210N said that he had landed on runway 25R and exited the runway on taxiway E. He said he contacted ground control and requested to taxi to the southeast T-hangars (requiring him to cross the active runway 25R). He said that ground control cleared him to taxi on taxiway A, to taxiway C, and hold short of runway 25R. The pilot said that upon reaching the intersection of taxiways A and C, he held on taxiway A (facing east) to permit any landing aircraft to exit the active runway at taxiway C. The pilot of the Sukhoi SU-29 (a tail wheel aircraft) said that he also landed on runway 25R and exited the runway on taxiway E. He changed his radio frequency to ground control and requested to taxi to the northeast T-hangars. Ground control cleared him to taxi on taxiway A to the T-hangars. The pilot said that he commenced to taxi. He said he saw the Cessna "at the last minute", and reduced his power and braked his aircraft. He said his propeller damaged the left elevator and left stabilizer of the Cessna

The pilot of the Cessna T210N said that he had landed on runway 25R and exited the runway on taxiway E. He said he contacted ground control and requested to taxi to the southeast T-hangars (requiring him to cross the active runway 25R). He said that ground control cleared him to taxi on taxiway A, to taxiway C, and hold short of runway 25R. The pilot said that upon reaching the intersection of taxiways A and C, he held on taxiway A (facing east) to permit any landing aircraft to exit the active runway at taxiway C. The pilot of a Sukhoi SU-29 (a tail wheel aircraft) said that he also landed on runway 25R and exited the runway on taxiway E. He changed his radio frequency to ground control and requested to taxi to the northeast T-hangars. Ground control cleared him to taxi on taxiway A to the T-hangars. The pilot said that he commenced to taxi. He said he saw the Cessna "at the last minute", and reduced his power and braked his aircraft. He said his propeller damaged the left elevator and left stabilizer of the Cessna.

Factual narrative

On March 23, 2007, at approximately 1715 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N4644U, was substantially damaged when a Sukhoi SU-29, N360JP, taxied into it at Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK), Livermore, California. The commercial pilot in the Sukhoi SU-29 and his passenger, and the private pilot in the Cessna T210N and his two passengers were not injured. Both pilots were operating their airplanes under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Cessna T210N's personal, cross-country flight, which originated from Napa, California, 30 minutes before the accident. Visual meteorological conditions also prevailed for the Sukhoi SU-29's personal cross-country flight, which originated from Ramona, California, approximately 3 hours before the accident. Neither aircraft had filed a flight plan.

The pilot of the Cessna T210N said that he had landed on runway 25R and exited the runway on taxiway E. He said he contacted ground control and requested to taxi to the southeast T-hangars (requiring him to cross the active runway 25R). He said that ground control cleared him to taxi on taxiway A, to taxiway C, and hold short of runway 25R. The pilot said that upon reaching the intersection of taxiways A and C, he held on taxiway A (facing east) to permit any landing aircraft to exit the active runway at taxiway C.

The pilot of the Sukhoi SU-29 (a tail wheel aircraft) said that he also landed on runway 25R and exited the runway on taxiway E. He changed his radio frequency to ground control and requested to taxi to the northeast T-hangars. Ground control cleared him to taxi on taxiway A to the T-hangars. The pilot said that he commenced to taxi. He said he saw the Cessna T210N "at the last minute", and reduced his power and braked his aircraft. He said his propeller damaged the left elevator and left stabilizer of the Cessna T210N.

On March 23, 2007, at approximately 1715 Pacific daylight time, a Cessna T210N, N4644U, was substantially damaged when a Sukhoi SU-29, N360JP, taxied into it at Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK), Livermore, California. The commercial pilot in the Sukhoi SU-29, the private pilot in the Cessna T210N and his two passengers were not injured. Both pilots were operating their airplanes under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Cessna T210N's personal, cross-country flight, which originated from Napa, California, 30 minutes before the accident. Visual meteorological conditions also prevailed for the Sukhoi SU-29's personal cross-country flight, which originated from Ramona, California, approximately 3 hours before the accident. Neither aircraft had filed a flight plan.

The pilot of the Cessna T210N said that he had landed on runway 25R and exited the runway on taxiway E. He said he contacted ground control and requested to taxi to the southeast T-hangars (requiring him to cross the active runway 25R). He said that ground control cleared him to taxi on taxiway A, to taxiway C, and hold short of runway 25R. The pilot said that upon reaching the intersection of taxiways A and C, he held on taxiway A (facing east) to permit any landing aircraft to exit the active runway at taxiway C.

The pilot of the Sukhoi SU-29 (a tail wheel aircraft) said that he also landed on runway 25R and exited the runway on taxiway E. He changed his radio frequency to ground control and requested to taxi to the northeast T-hangars. Ground control cleared him to taxi on taxiway A to the T-hangars. The pilot said that he commenced to taxi. He said he saw the Cessna T210N "at the last minute", and reduced his power and braked his aircraft. He said his propeller damaged the left elevator and left stabilizer of the Cessna T210N.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N4644U
Reported as
Cessna T210N
Category
Airplane
Serial number
21064797
Airframe hours
2,630
Engine
Continental TSIO-520-R, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Kevin J. McDonnell
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 1, 2006
Departed
APC · Napa, CA
Destination
LVK · Livermore, CA
Airport
LVK · Livermore Munic

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
N360JP
Reported as
Sukhoi SU-29
Category
Airplane
Serial number
74-01
Airframe hours
865
Engine
Vendeneyev M-14P, 376 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
John W. Piggott
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · January 1, 2007
Departed
RNM · Ramona, CA
Destination
LVK · Livermore, CA
Airport
LVK · Livermore Munic

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 N4644U
Age
51
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 1, 2006
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,604 total · 899 in this make and model · 1,436 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N360JP
Age
64
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
March 1, 2007
Seat
Front
Flight hours
3,047 total · 865 in this make and model · 2,822 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 12 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
290° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
79 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
29.88 inHg
Observed at
LVK

FAA reports on this event · 2

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