NORTH LAS VEGAS, NV, USA
N87714
Piper J3C-65
N882WS
Cessna TR182
The Cessna TR182 had been in the run-up area approximately 2 minutes conducting pretakeoff checks. It was on an easterly heading on the first run-up marker. The pilot of the Piper J3, who was in the rear seat, was going to conduct a run-up prior to taking the aircraft in for annual inspection. As he was taxiing north to the run-up area, he had aircraft parked on his left side, a Cherokee approaching from the 1 o'clock position, and a Twin Otter approaching from the 4 o'clock position. As he neared the spot where he planned to conduct his run-up he saw the Cessna. He shut down his engine and applied the brakes but was unable to stop before hitting the Cessna. His right wing scraped the bottom of the Cessna wing. His propeller struck its right horizontal stabilizer and elevator causing substantial damage. The Piper sustained minor damage to its propeller. The Piper pilot stated he had thoroughly scanned the run-up area and did not see the Cessna. He felt it had either blended in with the background or was in a blind spot.
On December 27, 1998, about 1630 hours Pacific standard time, a Piper J3C-65, N87714, collided with the elevator and horizontal stabilizer of a Cessna TR182, N882WS, in the run-up area of the North Las Vegas, Nevada, airport. Each aircraft was being operated by its private pilot/owner, the sole occupant, under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The Cessna was preparing to depart for St. George, Utah, where an annual inspection was to be completed. The Piper was not intending to fly. Its owner was going to perform an engine run-up prior to maintenance. Neither pilot was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the Cessna pilot did not file a flight plan. The Piper sustained minor damage; the Cessna sustained substantial damage. The Cessna pilot had been parked on the first run-up marker for approximately 2 minutes conducting the takeoff checklist. His aircraft was on a heading of approximately 090 degrees. The Piper pilot, who occupied the rear seat, came out of the hangar area west of the tower and proceeded in a northerly direction toward the run-up area. There were airplanes parked on his left side, a Cherokee approaching him from the 1 o'clock position, and a Twin Otter approaching from his 4 o'clock position. As he neared the spot where he intended to do his run-up, he saw the Cessna. He shut off his engine and hit the brakes but was unable to avoid the Cessna. The pilot stated that he had thoroughly scanned the run-up area, but did not see the airplane. He believes it either blended in with the hangars behind it or was in a blind spot. The right wing of the Piper was lightly scratched when it went under the right wing of the Cessna. However, the propeller struck the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator of the Cessna TR182 causing substantial damage.
Failure of the pilot-in-command to determine the taxiway was clear and to see and avoid the stationary Cessna TR182.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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