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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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March 19, 1988 · Pitts S-1C · N6389

Carson City, NV

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 19, 1988
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Location
Carson City, NV
Aircraft
Pitts S-1C
Tail Number
N6389
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA88FA060

Upon returning to the Carson Airport, N3545 (Nieuport) approached from the south and executed a 45 degree entry to the downwind leg for runway 27. While established on final and approximately 100 feet from the threshold to runway 27, and at an elevation of approximately 200 feet AGL, N3545 collided with N6389 (Pitts S-1C). Impact marks indicated that N6389 struck the upper left wing of N3545 with its wheels. The lower right wing of N6389 then disintegrated as it passed through the propeller arc of N3545. Neither pilot reported seeing the other aircraft and both aircraft crashed short of the runway. Neither aircraft was equipped with any position, anticollision or strobe lights and N3545 was not equipped with any communication equipment and was unable to receive the radio calls citing N6389's position on base and final. Although both aircraft were biplane (equipped with upper and lower wings) it could not be determined whether this design had any bearing in obstructing either pilot's view of the other aircraft.

Full Narrative

UPON RETURNING TO THE CARSON AIRPORT, N3545 (NIEUPORT) APPROACHED FROM THE SOUTH AND EXECUTED A 45 DEGREE ENTRY TO THE DOWNWIND LEG FOR RUNWAY 27. WHILE ESTABLISHED ON FINAL AND APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET FROM THE THRESHOLD TO RUNWAY 27, AND AT AN ELEVATION OF APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET AGL, N3545 COLLIDED WITH N6389 (PITTS S- 1C). IMPACT MARKS INDICATED THAT N6389 STRUCK THE UPPER LEFT WING OF N3545 WITH ITS WHEELS. THE LOWER RIGHT WING OF N6389 THEN DISINTEGRATED AS IT PASSED THROUGH THE PROPELLER ARC OF N3545. NEITHER PILOT REPORTED SEEING THE OTHER AIRCRAFT AND BOTH AIRCRAFT CRASHED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. NEITHER AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH ANY POSITION, ANTICOLLISION OR STROBE LIGHTS AND N3545 WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT AND WAS UNABLE TO RECEIVE THE RADIO CALLS CITING N6389'S POSITION ON BASE AND FINAL. ALTHOUGH BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE BIPLANE (EQUIPPED WITH UPPER AND LOWER WINGS) IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED WHETHER THIS DESIGN HAD ANY BEARING IN OBSTRUCTING EITHER PILOT'S VIEW OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time10:15 PST
Nearest AirportCarson Airport (0nm N)
Runway27
Runway Length5900 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPitts S-1C
Tail NumberN6389
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-360-A1A · Reciprocating · 180 | Warner · SS-50A · Reciprocating · 165
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (1 serious injury, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 52 · First Class
Crew 2Age 51 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility50 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data