SEA97LA045

The pilot of the Stinson 108-2 was taxiing to runway 19 for departure. He was taxiing behind an ultralight aircraft, whose pilot elected to make an intersection departure from runway 25. The ultralight pilot transmitted his intention to make the intersection departure, and then stopped his aircraft on the runway where the taxiway to runway 19 crossed runway 25. The Stinson pilot heard the departure call, but did not realize the ultralight was departing from the intersection, so he continued to taxi across runway 25. As he entered the runway, he saw the ultralight immediately in front of him, and 'stood on' the brakes. The Stinson then tipped on its nose, and its right wing impacted the ultralight.

On January 4, 1997, approximately 1430 Pacific standard time, a Stinson 108-2, N9467K, collided with a single-place ultralight while crossing runway 07/25 at Richland Airport, Richland, Washington. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the Stinson was not hurt, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot of the ultralight was also uninjured. The Stinson pilot was taxiing to runway 19 in order to depart on a CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight in the local area. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the Stinson pilot, both he and the ultralight pilot were taxiing north on the taxiway that runs parallel to runway 19/01. He had seen the ultralight ahead of him on the taxiway and assumed that the ultralight pilot was taxiing to the departure end of runway 19, just as he was. But instead, the ultralight stopped on the taxiway where it crosses runway 25, in order to execute an intersection departure on runway 25. According to the ultralight pilot, he made a radio transmission stating that he was making an intersection departure. The Stinson pilot said that although he heard the pilot of the ultralight announce his intention to depart on runway 25, he did not realize the pilot had announced an intersection departure. The Stinson pilot said that because of other activity in the immediate area, he was distracted and did not see the ultralight stop on the runway to prepare for departure. He saw the ultralight just prior to impact and applied hard braking. This resulted in the Stinson tipping up on its nose, at which time the right wing of the Stinson collided with the ultralight's structure and propeller.