FREDERICKSBURG, PA, USA
N52951
Boeing Stearman E75
N44111
Taylorcraft BC12-D
The Taylorcraft BC12-D had touched down and was on landing roll at an uncontrolled airport, when the right main landing gear of a Stearman E-75 touched down on the left elevator of the Taylorcraft. The propeller of the Stearman struck the left side fuselage and left wing of the Taylorcraft. The pilot of the Stearman reported, '...I scanned for traffic and obstacles on the runway...I lined up on center line, I flared for landing and just as I touched down I struck the Taylorcraft which is the first time myself or my passenger had seen it....'
On October 9, 1999, about 1715 eastern daylight time, a Boeing Stearman E-75, N52951, and a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N44111, collided while they were both landing on runway 28 at the Farmers Pride Airport (9N7), Fredericksburg, Pennsylvania. The Stearman received minor damage and the Taylorcraft was substantially damaged. The certificated pilot and passenger in the Stearman, and the certificated pilot in the Taylorcraft, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flights, and neither pilot had filed a flight plan for the local flights conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot of Stearman reported that he had departed on a local flight with a passenger onboard. He further stated: "...Approx. 15 minutes later I entered the pattern 45 degree to the downwind for runway 28. When I reached the threshold I reduced power to 16" & checked my airspeed and altitude. When 84 mph was reached I had a normal descent rate established and began my turn on base, noticing an aircraft sitting beside the office waiting for takeoff. I scanned for traffic and obstacles on the runway, went to full rich, full R.P.M. & removed carb heat, then turned final. I was lined up on center line, I flared for landing and just as I touched down I struck the Taylorcraft, which is the first time myself or my passenger had seen it...." The pilot of Taylorcraft was making full stop takeoffs and landings. He reported that he did not see any other airplanes in the traffic pattern. He further stated: "...On turning base, I notice I'm a little high so on turning final (still no traffic visible), I perform a forward slip with right bank into the wind (which is negligible), left rudder, and descend nicely holding 65 to a favorable altitude and transition out of the slip aligned on the centerline of the runway. Round out and flare, tracking nicely along centerline and transition to a 3 point landing configuration. Feather-light touchdown, and track straight down runway, progressively bleeding off ground speed from the drag. I felt a thud, looked to the left and witnessed the left wing 'falling off' the airplane...My aircraft pulled to the left of the runway, dragged to the left by the collapsed left wing. I shut down the engine...." One witness at the airport stated: "I saw the Stearman approaching the Taylorcraft on short final and contacted the Taylorcraft at the point of touchdown or shortly after." Another witness was interviewed by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) who reported: "...[the witness] observed both aircraft on final approach to Runway 28, with adequate spacing and normal speeds. [the witness] observed the Taylorcraft make a normal touchdown and rollout. The Stearman then proceeded to touchdown on the tail structure of the Taylorcraft with the Stearman right main landing gear tire...." The FAA Inspector reported that the accident occurred about 1,800 to 2,000 feet from the approach end of Runway 28. The Stearman had small dents in the upper left hand wing, and both blades of the propeller were damaged. In addition, there was yellow paint on the outside of the right main landing gear tire sidewall, which was similar in color to the paint on the vertical and horizontal stabilizer of the Taylorcraft. In addition, he reported that the left wing of the Taylorcraft was separated from the fuselage and held in place by the control cables. The left hand elevator was bent forward over the top of the left hand horizontal stabilizer. Both the vertical stabilizer and left hand stabilizer were deformed downward. The aft fuselage was deformed. There were propeller slashes at the left hand wing rear attach point, located about 8 inches behind the pilot's seat. According to records from the pilots, the pilot of the Stearman had accumulated a total 156 hours with 26 hours in make and model, and the pilot of the Taylorcraft had accumulated a total 158 hours with 9 hours in make and model.
the inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of the Stearman.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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