- Date
- September 24, 2011, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- West Jordan, UT
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- 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
- FAA reports
- 20110924021051I20110924021061A
- Case key
- 81971
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 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
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.