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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

September 5, 2009 · Cessna 140 A · N3656V

Louisa, VA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
September 5, 2009
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Louisa, VA
Aircraft
Cessna 140 A
Tail Number
N3656V
Operator
Sara L Parmenter
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
ERA09LA506

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna was taxiing to the runway for takeoff when she impacted a Lancair that was holding short of the runway. The Cessna pilot had seen the Lancair in front of her, but briefly lost sight of it prior to the collision. Following the collision, both pilots shut down their airplanes and exited without incident. They observed that the Cessna's propeller had struck the right horizontal stabilizer and empennage of the Lancair several times, resulting in substantial damage to the Lancair.

NTSB Probable Cause

Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring other aircraft-Pilot of other aircraft - C

Full Narrative

On September 5, 2009, about 1230 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Lancair 235, N290W, was substantially damaged when it was struck by a taxiing Cessna 140, N3656V, at Louisa County Airport (LKU), Louisa, Virginia. The certificated private pilot of the Lancair, and the certificated private pilot of the Cessna, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Neither the Lancair pilot nor the Cessna pilot had filed flights plans for the personal flights, which were conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Both pilots were attending a fly-in event held at LKU, a non-towered airport with a single east-west oriented runway. Volunteer ground personnel were present on the day of the fly-in to assist marshaling aircraft out of the parking area. According to the pilot of the Lancair, he started his airplane and was cleared by ground personnel to taxi to runway 27. While holding short of the runway, he conducted an engine run-up and was waiting for two airplanes to land before taxiing onto the runway for takeoff. He then felt "impacts that lasted approximately 3 seconds." The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna reported that she was taxiing to runway 27, and following the Lancair in front of her at "a safe distance" while conducting "proper turns." As she taxied up to the runway hold short line, she lost sight of the Lancair, and felt her airplane's propeller "strike something." The pilot stated that she "stopped" as soon as she realized what had happened. Following the collision, both pilots shut down their airplanes and exited without incident. They observed that the Cessna's propeller had struck the right horizontal stabilizer and empennage of the Lancair several times, resulting in substantial damage to the Lancair. The pilot of the Cessna held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. She reported 1,875 total hours of flight experience, 1,600 hours of which were in the accident airplane make and model. Her most recent third-class FAA medical certificate was issued in July, 2009. The pilot of the Lancair held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single engine and multiengine land, and an instrument rating. He reported 3,570 hours total flight experience. His most recent third-class FAA medical certificate was issued in August, 2009. The weather conditions reported at LKU, at 1220, included winds from 310 degrees at 4 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, and clear skies. The Federal Aviation Administration Airplane Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-3A) states, "Since a tailwheel-type airplane rests on the tailwheel as well as the main landing wheels, it assumes a nose-high attitude when on the ground…Consequently, objects directly ahead of the airplane are difficult, if not impossible, to see. To observe and avoid colliding with any objects or hazardous surface conditions, the pilot should alternately turn the nose from one side to the other – that is, zigzag, or make a series of short S-turns while taxiing forward."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 EDT
Nearest AirportLouisa County/Freeman Field (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 140 A
Tail NumberN3656V
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorSara L Parmenter
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · C90 · Reciprocating · 95 | Lycoming · IO-320 · Reciprocating · 150

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 85 · Third Class · None
Crew 2Age 56 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Observation Time12:20
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data