Docket And Docket Items - National Transportation Safety Board: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Final Report: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Docket And Docket Items - Aviation Accident Final Report: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Data Summary: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: ERA15LA084A
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, December 27, 2014 in Westminster, MD
Probable Cause Approval Date: 09/08/2015
Aircraft: AEROTEK PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, registration: N49294
Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Uninjured.
NTSB Identification: ERA15LA084B
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, December 27, 2014 in Westminster, MD
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-140, registration: N95297
Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
A Piper PA-28-140 and a Pitts Special S-1S collided in midair while both airplanes were on final approach to land. The Piper was equipped with a two-way radio and the Pitts was not. Both pilots were flying their airplanes on a visual approach to the same runway; the Piper entered the traffic pattern on the downwind leg, and the Pitts entered the traffic pattern on the crosswind leg. According to the Piper pilot, he made radio calls during each leg of the traffic pattern to announce his position, and, after beginning the final approach about 1.5 nautical miles from the runway threshold, he observed the Pitts on the downwind leg. The Pitts pilot reported that he flew a tighter traffic pattern and that he did not see the Piper. Witnesses reported that, as the airplanes were on short final, the Pitts converged on the Piper from behind and above. The Pitts’ tailwheel struck the top of the Piper’s fuselage, and the right main landing gear struck the cowling and was subsequently separated by the Piper’s propeller. After the collision, the Pitts entered a dive and then impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and elevator. The Piper pilot landed the airplane on the runway; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage from the collision.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to see and avoid the other airplane, which resulted in a midair collision while both airplanes were on final approach to land.
On December 27, 2014, about 1545 eastern standard time, a Pitts Special S-1S, N49294 and a Piper PA-28-140, N95297, were substantially damaged when they collided during an approach to land near Carroll County Regional Airport (DMW), Westminster, Maryland. The private pilot and passenger of the Piper were not injured. The private pilot of the Pitts received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for either local flight. The Piper departed Lancaster Airport (LNS), Lancaster, Pennsylvania about 1500 and the Pitts departed DMW about 1545. Both personal flights were conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the accident pilots, the Piper was equipped with two-way radio communication and the Pitts was not. Upon returning to the airport the Piper entered the downwind leg for runway 16 and made left traffic. The pilot of the Piper stated that he announced his position over the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency during each leg of the traffic pattern. During a long final approach leg at about 75 knots, the pilot of the Piper observed a "small red aircraft" on the downwind leg about midfield. Witnesses reported that while on the final approach leg the Pitts came from behind and above the Piper and converged on top of the airplane about 100 yards from the approach end of runway 16 about 100 ft. above ground level. The Piper landed on the runway and the Pitts entered a steep dive and subsequently impacted the ground.
The pilot of the Pitts reported that he was not aware that he was involved in a mid-air collision until he spoke with witnesses; however, he did recall that he flew a "tight" airport traffic pattern. In a follow-up written statement, the pilot of the Pitts reported that he entered the traffic pattern parallel to the runway 16 upwind leg at 1,600 feet and 100 mph. He flew both the crosswind and downwind legs at the same altitude and airspeed, but flew a "descending base and final" at 90 mph. The pilot of the Pitts also provided a hand drawing of his approach to runway 16. The illustration showed that the pilot established himself on the final approach leg about 1,000 feet from the runway threshold.
The operators of both airplanes reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
Carroll County Regional Airport was a publicly owned, non-towered airport with an elevation of about 789 feet mean sea level (msl) and a traffic pattern attitude of 1,599 feet msl.
The recorded weather at DMW, about the time of the accident, included clear skies, visibility of 10 miles, and wind from 260 degrees at 4 knots.
Examination of the airplanes by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the Pitts top and bottom right wings had separated at the wing spar. The airplane also sustained substantial damage to the right outboard section of the elevator. The right main landing gear of the Pitts had completely separated at the airplane's right main landing gear strut. Examination of the Piper revealed a tire mark and compression damage on the fuselage and left cockpit window, above the pilot's seat, and another tire mark on the cowling, just aft of the propeller. The damage and tire mark on the Piper fuselage matched the width of the Pitts' tailwheel landing gear. The Piper cowling tire marking was similar in width and tread as the Pitts airplane's main landing gear tire. The Piper's propeller also exhibited a black mark with similar dimensions to the Pitts' main landing gear.
There was one witness at the fixed base operator who was operating the Unicom/CTAF frequency and recalled hearing some "chatter"; however, he could not recall any of the specific frequency communications.
The accident was not captured on radar; however, both pilot reported that they were utilizing navigational aid devices. The pilot of the Piper used an Adventure Pilot iFly 700 GPS receiver and the internet application Foreflight on his iPad. The Pitts pilot used an earlier version of the internet application Foreflight on his iPhone, which was not equipped with recording capabilities. The iPad and Adventure Pilot GPS were forwarded to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, D.C., for data download.
According to the recorder laboratory factual report, the iPAD foreflight internet application was not recording at the time of the accident and, thus, did not retain any pertinent information.
The Adventure Pilot iFly 700 GPS captured the accident flight and revealed that the Piper approached the airport from the east at a GPS altitude of about 1,600 feet msl and entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 16 about 1539. The Piper entered the final approach leg for runway 16 about 1.5 nm from the runway threshold at a GPS altitude of about 1,237 feet msl. The last recorded GPS data showed the airplane at an approximate distance of 1,600 feet from the runway threshold, at a GPS altitude of about 919 feet msl.
Bob Gillespie: http://registry.faa.gov/N49294
ROBERT J. GRAHAM: http://registry.faa.gov/N95297
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, December 27, 2014 in Westminster, MD
Aircraft: AEROTEK PITTS SPECIAL S-1S, registration: N49294
Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Uninjured.
NTSB Identification: ERA15LA084B
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, December 27, 2014 in Westminster, MD
Aircraft: PIPER PA-28-140, registration: N95297
Injuries: 1 Serious, 2 Uninjured.
On December 27, 2014, about 1555 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-140, N95297, and a Pitts Special S-1S, N49294, were substantially damaged when they collided while on final approach into Carroll County Regional Airport (DMW), Westminster, Maryland. The private pilot and passenger of the Piper were not injured. The private pilot of the Pitts received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for either flight. The Piper departed DMW on a local flight at 1500 and the Pitts departed DMW on a local flight at 1545. Both personal flights were conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the accident pilots, the Piper was equipped with a radio and the Pitts was not. After returning from a local flight the Piper entered the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 16 and made left turns. During a long final approach leg, the Piper pilot observed a small red plane on the downwind leg about midfield. Multiple witnesses stated that the Pitts impacted the Piper from behind while on short final approach about 100 yards from the approach end of runway 16 about 100 ft. above ground level. The Piper landed safely and the Pitts entered a steep dive and subsequently impacted the ground short the runway.
The operators of both airplanes reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
Examination of the airplanes by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the elevator and wings of the Pitts sustained substantial damage. There was a tire mark and skin damage on the fuselage of the Piper, above the pilot's seat, and another tire mark on the cowling, just aft of the propeller. In addition, the Pitts' right main landing gear strut contained damage consistent with having contacted the Piper's propeller.
A wrecked Pitts Special S-1S rests in the grass at the scene of a small plane accident at the Carroll County Regional Airport in Westminster Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014. The pilot of the Pitts Special S-1S was transported by helicopter to University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center as a precaution.
Emergency workers prepare to transport the pilot of a Pitts Special S-1S that crashed at the Carroll County Regional Airport in Westminster Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014.
It happened just before 4 p.m. Saturday when investigators say two small planes got too close to each other at Carroll County Regional Airport.
Maryland State Police say a Piper low wing plane was attempting to land at Carroll County Regional Airport when it was struck by an aerobatic biplane. Word of the collision spread quickly through Carroll County.
“I got on Facebook and saw it on Carroll Fire Wire. I’ve never seen anything like it out here,” said Robert Ingle, Westminster resident.
Maryland State Police say one of the planes was able to make a safe landing on the runway. The second plane made a hard landing in a grassy field adjacent to the runway.
WJZ was there as investigators made their way to the scene. The pilot of the plane that landed safely met with state police.
Investigators say both planes were attempting to land at the same time with the aerobatic plane striking the Piper from above. The drama that unfolded came as a surprise to many.
“I travel 97 daily. I pass the airport every day. It was definitely a big shock,” Ingle said.
Representatives of the Federal Aviation Administration and the NTSB were notified and responded to the scene.
State police have identified the pilots and passengers involved. One pilot, Bobby Gillespic, was taken to Shock Trauma as a precaution.
The other pilot and his passenger, Robert and Helen Grahem, refused treatment at the scene.
Story and Video: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com
WESTMINSTER, Md. (WJZ) — Midair collision. Two planes clip wings while landing at an airport in Carroll County. WESTMINSTER, Md. —Two planes collided late Saturday afternoon at Carroll County Airport in Westminster.
Maryland State Police said reports of the planes colliding came in around 3:49 p.m.
According to witness reports, a white Piper Single low-wing plane was approaching the runway eastbound for a landing. A red Aerobatic Biplane was also on approach and did not see the Piper.
The planes attempted to land at the same time with the aerobatic striking the Piper from above. The Piper was able to complete a safe landing on the runway. The aerobatic biplane made a hard landing on the grassy field adjacent to the runway.
The pilot of the aerobatic, identified as Bob Gillespie, was flown to Shock Trauma as a precaution. The pilot and passenger of the Piper, identified as Robert and Helen Grahem, refused medical treatment at the scene.
Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and are at the scene.
Story and Comments: http://www.wbaltv.com
WESTMINSTER, Md. - It was a close call for two small planes trying to land on the same runway at a Westminster airport Saturday afternoon.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Maryland State Police are investigating how the planes failed to communicate and tried to land at the same time on the same runway at Carroll County Regional Airport.
Witnesses told police around 3:45 p.m. a Piper single-engine low wing plane was approaching the runway eastbound for a landing. A aerobatic biplane was also on approach and did not see the Piper. The planes attempted to land at the same time with the aerobatic striking the Piper from above. The Piper landed safely on the runway. The aerobatic biplane made a hard landing on the grassy field adjacent to the runway.
The pilot of the aerobatic was flown to University of Maryland Shock Trauma as a precaution. The pilot and passenger of the Piper refused medical treatment on the scene. The names of both pilots and one passenger are being withheld pending family notifications.
The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation.
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