OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, USA
N194A
COMMANDER 114B
N51ST
Aerotek S-2A
THE TOWER CLEARED THE COMMANDER 114B, N194A, FOR A MODIFIED TRAFFIC PATTERN APPROACH AND LANDING TO RUNWAY 17R. THE PITTS, N51ST, WHICH HAD BEEN DOING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS ON 17R WAS CLEARED TO LAND NUMBER TWO BEHIND THE SINGLE ENGINE COMMANDER. THE PILOT OF THE PITTS MISTOOK A TWIN COMMANDER ON SHORT FINAL TO RUNWAY 17L AS HIS TRAFFIC AND TURNED FINAL. AS THE PITTS ROLLED OUT ON FINAL, ITS LOWER RIGHT WING TIP STRUCK THE TOP OF THE COMMANDER'S COCKPIT ROOF FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND REAR TO FRONT. IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO THE COLLISION, THE TOWER CONTROLLER INSTRUCTED THE PITTS TO GO AROUND. FOLLOWING THE COLLISION, THE COMMANDER LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD ON 17R AND THE PITTS WENT AROUND AND LANDED ON 17L.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On Wednesday, April 28, 1993, at 1142 central daylight time, a Commander 114B, N194A, and a Aerotek Pitts S-2A, N51ST, collided while on final approach to runway 17R at Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Both airplanes sustained minor damage and subsequently landed without further incident. The Commander 114B, owned and operated by Commander Aircraft Company, and flown by two commercial pilots, was on a 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight. The Pitts S-2A, owned and operated by a private organization and flown by an ATP and a private pilot, was also on a 14 CFR Part 91 local instructional flight. Neither airplane was on a flight plan and visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area. None of the pilots and the one passenger in the Commander or the two pilots aboard the Pitts were injured. At 1132, the Commander was cleared for takeoff on runway 17L and westbound out of the airport traffic area. The Pitts was already airborne and doing touch and go landings on runway 17R. The tower controller cleared the Pitts for another touch and go on 17R at 1132:40. At 1135:51, a twin engine Commander, N91PK, called fourteen miles northeast and was cleared for a straight in to runway 17L. Shortly thereafter, the tower cleared the Pitts for a touch and go on runway 17R. At 1137:37, the incident Commander contacted the tower and requested clearance to perform touch and go landings. The Commander was instructed to enter right base for 17R and advised that the Pitts was also in right traffic for 17R, which the Commander pilot acknowledged. At 1138:16, the Pitts was cleared for another touch and go and the twin Commander, N91PK, was cleared to land on runway 17L. At 1139:22, the incident Commander was cleared for a touch and go on runway 17R. At 1140:09, the controller advised the Pitts pilot that he was number two to follow the single engine Commander that was two miles northwest of the field at 2,000 feet. The Pitts pilot acknowledged and at the same time, the controller issued a traffic advisory about the incident Commander to the twin Commander, N91PK. At 1141:16, the pilot of the Pitts inquired of the tower, ah where's the traffic, and was advised that the Commander traffic on about three quarter mile final runway one seven right. The Pitts pilot then stated that he had the traffic in sight. In his post incident statement, the pilot of the Pitts stated that at that time, he did not see the aircraft on short final to 17R, but did see a Commander aircraft on short final to runway 17L. The pilot in command of the Pitts stated that he and the other pilot commented over the intercom about the Commander landing on the wrong runway. By 1141:59, the twin Commander, N91PK, had touched down on 17L. The pilot of the incident Commander stated that he was on short final when he felt the collision and saw the Pitts cross from left to right. The Pitts pilot stated that after acknowledging the twin Commander point out, he turned base and final. He further stated that as he was lining up on final for 17R, he was instructed to go around by the tower. He stated that the collision occurred simultaneously with the instruction to go around. The tower controller issued the go around instruction at 1642:18. Neither pilot saw the other aircraft and no evasive action was taken by either. Paint transfers from the Pitts were found on the cockpit roof of the low wing Commander. The transfers transected the roof from left to right and rear to front. The right lower wing tip of the bi wing Pitts was damaged and separated from the airplane. Following the collision, the Commander landed straight ahead on runway 17R, while the Pitts went around and subsequently landed without further incident on runway 17L. WITNESSES Statements were obtained from the air traffic controllers that handled the flights and the passenger who was aboard the Commander. The statements from the controller in training and the senior controller were consistent with the ATC tape transcripts. The passenger in the right rear seat of the Commander did not see the Pitts until after the collision. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Commander, N194A: The pilot in command was an instructor pilot for the Commander Aircraft Corporation and based at Wiley Post airport. He was flying the airplane from the right front seat. The second pilot, a commercial pilot from Brazil, was being checked out in the airplane and occupied the left front seat. Pitts, N51ST: The pilot in command, was a part owner in the airplane, an instructor pilot and based out of Wiley Post. He was seated in the front seat. The second pilot was undergoing instruction in the airplane and seated in the rear seat. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION Both airplanes were properly documented and had current inspections. No evidence of any pre impact failure or malfunction was found during the investigation. Neither was equipped with strobe lights and neither was operating with landing lights on at the time of the incident. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Wreckage Release: Both airplanes were verbally released to their respective owners following inspection by the assigned FAA incident coordinator.
THE PILOT OF THE PITTS, N51ST, MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE TOWER'S INSTRUCTIONS AND CLEARANCE, AND HIS FAILURE TO SEE AND AVOID THE COMMANDER 114B, N194A.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
