WPR11LA477

NTSB accident investigation · Starduster II SA-300 · West Jordan, UT · September 24, 2011

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 24, 2011, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
Place
West Jordan, UT
Injuries
4 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N23UTStarduster II SA-300N6357QCessna 152
Defining events
Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionStanding: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report March 20, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Western Pacific Region
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
Case key
81971

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 of the other airplane's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with the standing airplane.

The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during taxi, which resulted in a collision with the standing airplane.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

N23UT · Starduster II SA-300

N6357Q · Cessna 152

Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftPersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftCessna 152: 8 casesAll aircraft: 231 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

N23UT · Starduster II SA-300

N6357Q · Cessna 152

Analysis

The Starduster pilot was taxiing for departure. Due to the tailwheel configuration of the airplane, he had limited visibility when taxiing, and the airplane was not equipped with a radio. When the pilot began the taxi, he noted two airplanes in the run-up area, and he later saw them depart. Unknown to him, there was a third airplane parked in the run-up area. As the Starduster approached the run-up area, the passenger began waving his hands; however, the Starduster impacted the right wing of the parked Cessna.

The Starduster pilot was taxiing for departure. Due to the tailwheel configuration of the airplane he had limited visibility when taxiing, and the airplane was not equipped with a radio. When the pilot began the taxi, he noted two airplanes in the run-up area, and he later saw them depart. Unknown to him, there was a third airplane parked in the run-up area. As the Starduster approached the run-up area, the passenger began waving his hands; however, the Starduster impacted the right wing of the parked Cessna.

Factual narrative

On September 24, 2011, at 1630 mountain daylight time, a Starduster II SA-300, N23UT, collided with a Cessna 152, N6357Q, while taxiing to the runup area at South Valley Regional Airport, West Jordan, Utah. The Starduster sustained minor damage and the Cessna sustained substantial damage. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane. The airplanes were being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plans were filed for either flight. The pilot in the Starduster indicated that to the conventional gear configuration, visibility from the airplane is limited and the airplane was not equipped with a radio. As he taxied to the runup area he saw two airplanes in the runup area. He then saw the two airplanes depart. As the pilot approached the runup area and slowed the airplane, his passenger began waving his hands. The Starduster then impacted the Cessna parked in the runup area. According to the flight instructor in the Cessna, he was conducting a flight review. They were parked in the runup area completing a runup. He looked up from the instruments and saw the Starduster taxiing toward the Cessna. Shortly thereafter, the propeller of the Starduster impacted the outer portion of the Cessna's right wing, resulting in substantial damage.

On September 24, 2011, at 1630 mountain daylight time, a Starduster II SA-300, N23UT, collided with a Cessna 152, N6357Q, while taxiing to the runup area at South Valley Regional Airport, West Jordan, Utah. The Starduster sustained minor damage and the Cessna sustained substantial damage. There were no injuries to the occupants of either airplane. The airplanes were being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plans were filed for either flight. The pilot in the Starduster indicated that to the conventional gear configuration, visibility from the airplane is limited and the airplane was not equipped with a radio. As he taxied to the runup area he saw two airplanes in the runup area. He then saw the two airplanes depart. As the pilot approached the runup area and slowed the airplane, his passenger began waving his hands. The Starduster then impacted the Cessna parked in the runup area. According to the flight instructor in the Cessna, he was conducting a flight review. They were parked in the runup area completing a runup. He looked up from the instruments and saw the Starduster taxiing toward the Cessna. Shortly thereafter, the propeller of the Starduster impacted the outer portion of the Cessna's right wing, resulting in substantial damage.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N23UT
Reported as
Starduster II SA-300
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
182
Airframe hours
1,600
Engine
Lycoming HIO-360-D1A, 190 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Operator
Starduster LLC
Registered owner
Starduster LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · May 10, 2011 · 7 hours before
Departed
U42 · Salt Lake City, UT
Destination
Salt Lake City, UT
Airport
U42 · South Valley Regional 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
N6357Q
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15285235
Engine
Lycoming O-235, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Private Pilot Flyers LLC
Registered owner
Private Pilot Flyers LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
U42 · Salt Lake City, UT
Destination
U42 · Salt Lake City, UT
Airport
U42 · South Valley Regional 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 · 3

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N23UT
Age
81
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 13, 2010
Seat
Rear
Flight hours
2,600 total · 270 in this make and model
Role
Flight instructor, aircraft N6357Q
Age
53
Injuries
None
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
July 1, 2011
Seat
Right
Flight hours
18,000 total · 11,000 as pilot in command
Role
Pilot, aircraft N6357Q
Age
42
Injuries
None
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
360° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 34 °F
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Observed at
SLC, 10 nm away

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.6 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 2

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