# NTSB WPR24LA317: Yakovlev YAK-50, N613BM, Watsonville, CA, September 20, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 20, 2024, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Watsonville, CA - Coordinates: 36, -121 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0000&lon=-121.0000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 195228 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195228/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195228 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA317 ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The Yak-50 pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from another airplane while taxiing and maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inattention due to a distraction inside the cockpit. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=9830110), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=9830110), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate, aircraft 2; cases with it: [Beech S35, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Yakovlev YAK-50, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=9830110), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) - [Taxi-to runway: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Beech S35, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=1151532), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The pilot of the Yak-50 reported that he started taxiing from the airport transient area towards the active runway as the lead airplane for a formation training flight with three airplanes following behind. He remarked that there is no forward visibility in his tailwheel equipped airplane and typically completes S turns to improve his visibility. However, the pilot assumed the approaching run-up area was clear and was concerned that the airplane’s pneumatic system was low, so he decided not to perform any additional turns to conserve air. He traversed the intersecting runway and still did not accomplish an S turn because he was now distracted by the radio and still trying to conserve air. As he approached the engine run-up area he looked to the left and then looked to the right at which time he observed his right wingtip contact the propeller of the Beechcraft S35, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. According to the pilot of the Beechcraft S35, he had finished his engine run-up at the active runway and was waiting for airplanes to pass and takeoff before he departed. While configuring his radio for the flight he noticed movement on his left and observed the Yak-50 moving quickly. The Yak-50 did not follow the curve of the taxiway and its right wing impacted his airplane. The pilots of both airplanes reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N613BM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N613BM), registered now, S/N 842803, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: YAKOVLEV YAK-50 - Registry model: [Yakovlev YAK-50](https://openairdocs.org/model/yakovlev-yak-50) (registry code 9830110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 842803 - Year built: 1984 - Engines: Vedeneyev M-14PF 400 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, May 31, 2024 - Airport: WVI, Watsonville Muni, runway 20, 4,502 × 149 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N6027F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6027F), registered now, S/N D-7895, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH S35 - Registry model: [Beech S35](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-s35) (registry code 1151532) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-7895 - Year built: 1965 - Airframe hours: 5306 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-520-BB 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 22, 2024 - Destination: SNS, Salinas, CA - Flight plan: IFR - Equipment: Onboard weather, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N613BM; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,685 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 3,630 as pilot in command, 28.9 in the last 90 days, 11.3 in the last 30 days, 2.1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N6027F; age 58; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 30, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,236 total, 27 in this make and model, 4,648 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KWVI, 68 nm away - METAR: METAR KWVI 201953Z AUTO 16005KT 10SM OVC013 18/13 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP137 T01780128= ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195228. 8.4 MB in all. - Accident photographs (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 905 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17814047&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - N613BM (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17826564&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N613BM_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (N6027F) (item 3, PDF, 9 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17813945&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.