- Date
- November 3, 2012, 14:20 local (21:20 UTC)
- Place
- Van Nuys, CA
- Injuries
- 4 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N4417SBeech D17SN545ERCessna 172S
- Defining events
- Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionStanding-engine(s) operating: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA reports
- 20121103026222A20121103026462A
- Case key
- 85508
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 NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
The pilot of another airplane did not maintain a proper visual lookout during taxi, which resulted in an on-ground collision.
The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper visual lookout during taxi, which resulted in an on-ground collision with another airplane.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings.
N4417S · Beech D17S
Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftProbable causeN545ER · Cessna 172S
Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraftProbable causeAnalysis
The Beech airplane was located in the run-up area, and the pilot was conducting a pre-takeoff run-up check when the pilot of a Cessna airplane taxied in front of the Beech and stopped at the runway hold short line. The pilot of the Beech was subsequently cleared by an air traffic controller to move up to and hold short of the hold short line. The pilot of the Beech applied power and taxied forward about 10 feet when he initiated a slight left turn; the airplane’s propeller impacted the left horizontal stabilizer of the Cessna. The Cessna’s horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged and the Beech airplane sustained minor damage. The pilot of the Beech reported that he never saw the Cessna prior to impact. Both pilots reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot of a Beech airplane was located in the run-up area conducting a pre-takeoff run-up check when the pilot of a Cessna airplane taxied in front of the Beech and stopped at the runway hold short line. The pilot in the Beech was subsequently cleared by air traffic control to move up to and hold short of the hold short line. The pilot of the Beech applied power and taxied forward approximately 10 feet when he initiated a slight left turn and the airplane’s propeller impacted the left horizontal stabilizer of the Cessna. The Cessna’s horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged and the Beech airplane received minor damage. The pilot of the Beech reported that he never saw the Cessna prior to impact. Both pilots reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a Beech airplane was located in the run up area conducting a pre-takeoff run-up check when the pilot of a Cessna airplane taxied in front of the Beech and stopped at the runway hold short line. The pilot in the Beech was subsequently cleared by air traffic control to move up to and hold short of the hold short line. The pilot of the Beech applied power and taxied forward approximately 10 feet when he initiated a slight left turn and the airplane’s propeller impacted the left horizontal stabilizer of the Cessna. The Cessna’s horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged and the Beech airplane received minor damage. The pilot of the Beech reported that he never saw the Cessna prior to impact. Both pilots reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot of a Beech airplane was located in the run up area conducting a pre-takeoff run-up check when the pilot of a Cessna airplane taxied in front of the Beech and stopped at the runway hold short line. The pilot in the Beech was subsequently cleared by air traffic control to move up to and hold short of the hold short line. The pilot of the Beech applied power and taxied forward approximately 10 feet when he initiated a slight left turn and the airplane’s propeller impacted the left horizontal stabilizer of the Cessna. The Cessna’s horizontal stabilizer was substantially damaged and the Beech airplane received minor damage. The pilot of the Beech reported that he never saw the Cessna prior to impact. Both pilots reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. .
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident.
N4417S · Beech D17S
Ground collisionDefining eventN545ER · Cessna 172S
Ground collisionDefining eventAircraft · 2
- Registration
- N4417S
- Reported as
- Beech D17S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 6918
- Engine
- P&W R-985 SERIES, 450 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Seymour Robin
- Registered owner
- Seymour Robin
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 10, 2012
- Departed
- VNY · Van Nuys, CA
- Destination
- VNY · Van Nuys, CA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- VNY · Van Nuys Airport, runway 16R, 8,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- N545ER
- Reported as
- Cessna 172S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 172S10529
- Airframe hours
- 4,143
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-L2A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
- Registered owner
- Avn Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Last inspection
- Continuous airworthiness · October 29, 2012 · 26 hours before
- Departed
- VNY · Van Nuys, CA
- Destination
- PRC · Prescott, AZ
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- VNY · Van Nuys Airport, runway 16R, 8,001 × 150 ft, asphalt
Flight crew · 3
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N4417S
- Age
- 84
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 15, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 5,600 total · 325 in this make and model · 5,600 as pilot in command · 110 in the last 90 days · 30 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Flight instructor, aircraft N545ER
- Age
- 22
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- March 14, 2012
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 525 total · 380 in this make and model · 430 as pilot in command · 155 in the last 90 days · 60 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N545ER
- Age
- 21
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 3, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 185 total · 170 in this make and model · 80 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- VNY, 1 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 9, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 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.