- Date
- May 31, 1994, 08:55 local (14:55 UTC)
- Place
- Jackson Hole, WY
- Injuries
- 2 minor, 1 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19940531018011A19940531018012A
- Case key
- 41932
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot of the christen eagle ii, N246RL, to see and avoid the Cessna 172, N62463, and the pilot of the christen eagle ii diverting his attention from operation of his airplane.
The failure of the pilot of the christen eagle ii, N246RL, to see and avoid the Cessna 172, N62463, and the pilot of the christen eagle ii diverting his attention from operation of his airplane.
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
While taxiing for takeoff, the pilot of the christen eagle ii, N246RL, became distracted when he looked into the cockpit to check the adjustment of the mixture control. When he looked up, it was too late to keep from hitting the Cessna 172, N62463, that was parked in the run-up area preparing for departure. The eagle ii pilot attempted to turn his aircraft to avoid the collision, but both right wings impacted the CE-172.
While taxiing for takeoff, the pilot of the christen eagle ii, N246RL, became distracted when he looked into the cockpit to check the adjustment of the mixture control. When he looked up, it was too late to keep from hitting the Cessna 172, N62463, that was parked in the run-up area preparing for departure. The eagle ii pilot attempted to turn his aircraft to avoid the collision, but both right wings impacted the CE-172.
Factual narrative
On May 31, 1994, approximately 0855 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Latter Christen Eagle II, N246RL, collided with a Cessna 172, N62463, in the run-up area for runway 18 at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming. The private pilot in the Eagle was not injured, but the certified flight instructor and his student in the 172 received minor injuries. The Eagle sustained substantial damage, and the 172 sustained minor damage. At the time of the accident, both aircraft were preparing to depart in visual meteorological conditions. Neither pilot had filed a flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation.
According to the pilot of the Eagle, he had looked into the cockpit while taxiing in order to check his mixture setting. When he looked back up, he realized that he was heading for a Cessna 172 that was parked in the run-up area preparing for departure. He was unable to stop his aircraft in time to keep both of his aircraft's right wings from impacting the 172.
On May 31, 1994, approximately 0855 mountain daylight time (MDT), a Latter Christen Eagle II, N246RL, collided with a Cessna 172, N62463, in the run-up area for runway 18 at Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming. The private pilot in the Eagle was not injured, but the certified flight instructor and his student in the 172 received minor injuries. The Eagle sustained substantial damage, and the 172 sustained minor damage. At the time of the accident, both aircraft were preparing to depart in visual meteorological conditions. Neither pilot had filed a flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation.
According to the pilot of the Eagle, he had looked into the cockpit while taxiing in order to check his mixture setting. When he looked back up, he realized he was heading for a Cessna 172 that was parked in the run-up area preparing for departure. He was unable to stop his aircraft in time to keep both of the right wings of his aircraft from impacting the 172.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N246RL
- Reported as
- Latter Christen Eagle II (CHRISTEN E)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- L-0026
- Engine
- Unknown UNKNOWN, unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Denver Aircraft Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport
- JAC · Jackson Hole, runway 18
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
- N62463
- Reported as
- Cessna 172
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2072436
- Airframe hours
- 6,112
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-D2J, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- J & H Aircraft Management
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 19, 1994 · 58 hours before
- Airport
- JAC · Jackson Hole, runway 18
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 N246RL
- Age
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 2,600 total
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N62463
- Age
- 44
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 890 total · 512 in this make and model · 876 as pilot in command · 105 in the last 90 days · 49 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 37 °F
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.