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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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April 29, 1982 · Christian Eagle II · N3DY

Lancaster, PA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 29, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Lancaster, PA
Aircraft
Christian Eagle II
Tail Number
N3DY
Operator
Richard D Yeargley
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC82FGT14

After taking off from runway 31, the pilot proceeded to an area where he performed inverted flight in an attempt to find a dime that may have been dropped in the cockpit. During his departure and arrival, he and a tower controller discussed and joked about looking for the lost dime. The pilot was cleared to land on runway 26. While rolling out, the tower controller kidded the pilot by saying something to the effect that there was something silver skipping in front of the plane, then commented about good vision. The pilot responded, and later, he reported that he did not hear the tower caution him of equipment on the taxiway. The equipment was on the edge of the taxiway between runways 26 and 31. While taxiing, the pilot's forward vision was obstructed by the aircraft's nose which required S-turns for clearing. Ground control cleared the pilot to cross runway 31, but instructed him not to delay since there was traffic. The pilot elected to taxi without S-turns and the plane's right wing hit the equipment.

Full Narrative

AFTER TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 31, THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO AN AREA WHERE HE PERFORMED INVERTED FLIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND A DIME THAT MAY HAVE BEEN DROPPED IN THE COCKPIT. DURING HIS DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL, HE AND A TOWER CONTROLLER DISCUSSED AND JOKED ABOUT LOOKING FOR THE LOST DIME. THE PILOT WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 26. WHILE ROLLING OUT, THE TOWER CONTROLLER KIDDED THE PILOT BY SAYING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING SILVER SKIPPING IN FRONT OF THE PLANE, THEN COMMENTED ABOUT GOOD VISION. THE PILOT RESPONDED, AND LATER, HE REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT HEAR THE TOWER CAUTION HIM OF EQUIPMENT ON THE TAXIWAY. THE EQUIPMENT WAS ON THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY BETWEEN RUNWAYS 26 AND 31. WHILE TAXIING, THE PILOT'S FORWARD VISION WAS OBSTRUCTED BY THE AIRCRAFT'S NOSE WHICH REQUIRED S-TURNS FOR CLEARING. GROUND CONTROL CLEARED THE PILOT TO CROSS RUNWAY 31, BUT INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO DELAY SINCE THERE WAS TRAFFIC. THE PILOT ELECTED TO TAXI WITHOUT S-TURNS AND THE PLANES RIGHT WING HIT THE EQUIPMENT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time18:48 EDT
Nearest AirportLancaster (0nm N)
Runway31
Runway Length250 ft
Runway Width50 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftChristian Eagle II
Tail NumberN3DY
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRichard D Yeargley
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · AEIO-360-AID · Reciprocating · 260
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 57 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind320° @ 4 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point14 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg

Appendix: Source Data