SEA99LA055

NTSB accident investigation · Piper J-3 · Vancouver, WA · April 22, 1999

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
April 22, 1999, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
Place
Vancouver, WA
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N48612Piper J-3N3510JCessna 150E
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 23, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
46163

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 other aircraft to maintain clearance from the pilot's stationary aircraft.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an aircraft parked in the run-up area.

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.

On ground/water collision with objectTaxi - from landing
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Object - aircraft parked/standingFactor
On ground/water collision with objectStanding - engine(s) operating
Clearance - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause
Object - aircraft moving on groundFactor

Analysis

While taxiing the airplane to a parking area after landing on a north/south runway, the Piper J-3 pilot taxied through the run-up area for the east/west runway. As he passed the run-up area, the right wing of his aircraft collided with the wing and propeller of a Cessna 150 that was preparing for takeoff. During a post-accident interview, the pilot said that he simply had not seen the other aircraft and was not aware it was in the area until the two aircraft made contact.

While taxiing the airplane to a parking area after landing on a north/south runway, the Piper J-3 pilot taxied through the run-up area for the east/west runway. As he passed the run-up area, the right wing of his airplane collided with the wing and propeller of a Cessna 150 that was preparing for takeoff. During a post-accident interview, the pilot said that he simply had not seen the other aircraft and was not aware it was in the area until the two aircraft made contact.

Factual narrative

On April 22, 1999, approximately 1130 pacific daylight time, a Piper J-3, N48612, collided with a Cessna 150E, N3510J, while being taxied in from landing at Evergreen Airpark, Vancouver, Washington. The J-3, which was owned and operated by Paulson Aircraft, Inc., along with the 150, which was owned and operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither pilot was injured and there was no report of an ELT activation. The accident took place during visual meteorological conditions while both aircraft were operating under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the J-3 pilot, while he was taxiing to parking after landing on the north/south runway, he passed through the run-up area for the east/west runway. While passing through the run-up area, the right wing of his aircraft impacted the wing and propeller of a Cessna 150 that was doing an engine run-up in preparation for departure. He said that he simply had not seen the aircraft and didn't know it was in the area until the two aircraft made contact.

On April 22, 1999, approximately 1130 pacific daylight time, a Piper J-3, N48612, collided with a Cessna 150E, N3510J, while being taxied in from landing at Evergreen Airpark, Vancouver, Washington. The J-3, which was owned and operated by Paulson Aircraft, Inc., along with the 150, which was owned and operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage. Neither pilot was injured and there was no report of an ELT activation. The accident took place during visual meteorological conditions while both aircraft were operating under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the J-3 pilot, while he was taxiing to parking after landing on the north/south runway, he passed through the run-up area for the east/west runway. While passing through the run-up area, the right wing of his aircraft impacted the wing and propeller of a Cessna 150 that was doing an engine run-up in preparation for departure. He said that he simply had not seen the aircraft and didn't know it was in the area until the two aircraft made contact.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N48612
Reported as
Piper J-3
Category
Airplane
Serial number
10733
Engine
Continental C-85-12, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Paulson Aircraft, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · April 14, 1999 · 15 hours before
Departed
59S
Airport
59S · Evergreen Airport

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
N3510J
Reported as
Cessna 150E
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15061210
Airframe hours
6,317
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Edward U. Mcbride
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Utility
Last inspection
Annual · May 12, 1998 · 90 hours before
Departed
59S
Airport
59S · Evergreen Airport

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 N48612
Age
62
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Front
Flight hours
10,300 total · 200 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 35 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N3510J
Age
66
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
993 total · 487 in this make and model · 993 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
20 statute miles
Temperature
64 °F

FAA reports on this event · 2

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

Other investigations on N48612 · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.