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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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October 25, 1982 · Piper J3C-65 · N25973

Augusta, ME

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
October 25, 1982
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Augusta, ME
Aircraft
Piper J3C-65
Tail Number
N25973
Operator
Balloon Drifters
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
NYC83IA013

The student and flight instructor (CFI) of Cessna 172, N5742T, started to taxi while the student and CFI of Piper JC3-65, N25973, were landing. The Cessna aircrew saw the Piper land and turn off onto the same taxiway that they were on, but from the opposite direction. They stopped the Cessna on the edge of the taxiway with the right wheel just on the pavement to make room for the other plane to pass. The Piper (with no radio) was S-turning so as to see ahead. The CFI of the Piper stated that he had unbuckled and pulled himself up twice to look over the top of the dashboard, but saw nothing ahead. The CFI of the Cessna stated that when the Piper was about 200 ft away, it turned as though to pass, but when it was about 50 ft away, it changed directions and ran into his aircraft. He stated that the Cessna was stopped with the brakes on for about 20 sec before the collision. Both aircraft received only minor damage.

Full Narrative

THE STUDENT AND FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (CFI) OF CESSNA 172, N5742T, STARTED TO TAXI WHILE THE STUDENT AND CFI OF PIPER JC3-65, N25973, WERE LANDING. THE CESSNA AIRCREW SAW THE PIPER LAND AND TURN OFF ONTO THE SAME TAXIWAY THAT THEY WERE ON, BUT FROM THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THEY STOPPED THE CESSNA ON THE EDGE OF THE TAXIWAY WITH THE RIGHT WHEEL JUST ON THE PAVEMENT TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE OTHER PLANE TO PASS. THE PIPER (WITH NO RADIO) WAS S-TURNING SO AS TO SEE AHEAD. THE CFI OF THE PIPER STATED THAT HE HAD UNBUCKLED AND PULLED HIMSELF UP TWICE TO LOOK OVER THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD, BUT SAW NOTHING AHEAD. THE CFI OF THE CESSNA STATED THAT WHEN THE PIPER WAS ABOUT 200 FT AWAY, IT TURNED AS THOUGH TO PASS, BUT WHEN IT WAS ABOUT 50 FT AWAY, IT CHANGED DIRECTIONS AND RAN INTO HIS AIRCRAFT. HE STATED THAT THE CESSNA WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES ON FOR ABOUT 20 SEC BEFORE THE COLLISION. BOTH AIRCRAFT RECEIVED ONLY MINOR DAMAGE.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time15:15 EDT
Nearest AirportAUGUSTA (0nm N)
Runway17
Runway Length4199 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper J3C-65
Tail NumberN25973
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorBalloon Drifters
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200-A · Reciprocating · 65 | Continental · O-300-D · Reciprocating · 145
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 30 · Second Class
Crew 2Age 38 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0

Appendix: Source Data