Saturday, July 08, 2017

Ground Collision: Boeing A75N1(PT17), N68117 and Fairchild M-62A-3, N73529; accident occurred October 22, 2016 at High Point Airport (3KS5), Valley Center, Sedgwick County, Kansas




Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Wichita, Kansas 

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:  



Location: Valley Center, Kansas 
Accident Number: GAA17CA053
Date and Time: October 22, 2016, 12:00 Local
Registration: N68117
Aircraft: Boeing A75N1(PT17)
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Ground collision 
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot of the tail-wheel equipped Fairchild airplane reported that after landing on the 2,400-foot long by 100-foot wide private grass runway, he pulled off to the right of the runway about 2/3 of the way down with his engine at idle power to watch a Stearman airplane, which he had been flying in tandem with, land. The Fairchild pilot further reported that the Stearman appeared to be approaching a little fast, touched down about 1/2 way down the runway, and started drifting to the right, toward the stopped Fairchild.

The pilot of the tail-wheel equipped Stearman biplane reported that during the landing roll he was looking out of the left side of the Stearman, misjudged the width of the grass runway, and "clipped [the Fairchild] on [the] edge of runway". The Stearman then impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage to the lower left wing and both right wings.

The Fairchild sustained substantial damage to the engine cowl and firewall.

The Fairchild pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Stearman pilot reported that it was possible that the tailwheel bracket was broken prior to the airplane colliding with the Fairchild and impacting trees.

In a postaccident interview with the investigator-in-charge (IIC), the Stearman pilot reported that during the initial preflight and taxi of the airplane, the tailwheel bracket "looked good" and he had no issues steering during taxi and takeoff.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The other pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and to see and avoid the airplane stopped on the edge of the runway.

Findings

Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Personnel issues Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot
Aircraft Directional control - Not attained/maintained
Environmental issues Aircraft - Effect on operation
Environmental issues Tree(s) - Contributed to outcome
Environmental issues Visibility - Effect on personnel

Factual Information

History of Flight

Landing-landing roll Loss of control on ground
Landing-landing roll Ground collision (Defining event)
Landing-landing roll Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline transport; Flight instructor
Age: 70,Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Single-engine sea; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Glider
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine; Glider; Instrument airplane
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations 
Last FAA Medical Exam: July 26, 2016
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: May 11, 2016
Flight Time: (Estimated) 7000 hours (Total, all aircraft), 150 hours (Total, this make and model), 6800 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 50 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 30 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Passenger Information

Certificate: 
Age: Male
Airplane Rating(s): 
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): 
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): 
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: UNK 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Boeing 
Registration: N68117
Model/Series: A75N1(PT17) UNDESIGNATED
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1942
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 75-7280
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: March 9, 2016 Annual 
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3853 Hrs as of last inspection 
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney
ELT: C91 installed, not activated 
Engine Model/Series: R-985
Registered Owner: 
Rated Power: 450 Horsepower
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KAAO,1421 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 8 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 16:54 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 133°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:  / None
Wind Direction: 170° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:  / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg 
Temperature/Dew Point: 18°C / 9°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: WICHITA, KS (71K) 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Valley Center, KS (3KS5) 
Type of Clearance: Traffic advisory
Departure Time: 11:45 Local
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: HIGH POINT 3KS5 
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 1395 ft msl
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 17 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2400 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full stop; Traffic pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None 
Latitude, Longitude: 37.842224,-97.351387(est)

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