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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

November 29, 2009 · Curtiss Wright Travel AIR 4000 · N8700

Torrance, CA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 29, 2009
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Torrance, CA
Aircraft
Curtiss Wright Travel AIR 4000
Tail Number
N8700
Operator
Smith Richard Charles
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR10CA079

The Travel Air pilot was taxiing down the 58-foot-wide asphalt lane that stretched between rows of hangar buildings toward a taxiway. Prior to beginning the taxi the pilot had visually checked the lane and had not observed any other aircraft in the lane between his position and the taxiway. The Travel Air is a tailwheel-type configuration, and the pilot was making continuous S-turns to look for obstructions ahead of his position. As he reached the end of the buildings, his propeller collided with the empennage of a stationary Lancair that had been pulled out of the end hangar. The pilot of the Lancair had started his engine and was contacting the Air Traffic Control Tower for a clearance onto the taxiway when the collision occurred. The point of the collision is in a non-movement ramp area not subject to air traffic control separation.

NTSB Probable Cause

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

Full Narrative

On November 29, 2009, about 1345, a Travel Air 4000, N8700, taxied into a Lancair 235, N880RS, at the Zamperini Field Airport, Torrance, California. The pilots were operating their respective airplanes under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In the Travel Air, the private pilot was not injured; in the Lancair, the airline transport pilot was not injured. The Lancair sustained substantial damage and the Travel Air was not damaged. The Travel Air pilot was repositioning from his hangar to the fueling area; he had no intention of flight. The Lancair pilot was about to taxi to the active runway for the purpose of conducting a personal local-area flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and neither pilot had filed a flight plan. In a written statement, the Travel Air pilot reported that he had taken his airplane out of the hangar and started the engine, noting that no other aircraft appeared to be in the area. He proceeded to taxi down the asphalt area that stretched between the hangar rows (58 feet wide), as he did as part of his normal procedure. With the airplane being a tail-wheel type configuration, he was making continuous S-turns to ensure visibly ahead of his position. As he reached the end of the building, he noted that white particles where emanating from the propeller. He shut down the engine and egressed the airplane to discover that his propeller contacted the rudder of the Lancair. The pilot of the Lancair stated that just prior to calling for a taxi clearance the Travel Air collided into the empennage, damaging the rudder, vertical fin, elevators, and horizontal stabilizer. He noted that he was positioned outside of his hangar and stationary.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:45 PST
Nearest AirportZamperini Field Airport (0nm)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo

Aircraft

AircraftCurtiss Wright Travel AIR 4000
Tail NumberN8700
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSmith Richard Charles
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsCont Motor · W670 SERIES · Reciprocating · 250 | Lycoming · O-320 SERIES · Reciprocating · 180
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 76 · Third Class
Crew 2Age 51 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data