Torrance, CA, USA
N8700
CURTISS WRIGHT TRAVEL AIR 4000
N880RS
SUTHERLAND RON LANCAIR 235
The Travel Air pilot was taxiing down the 58-foot-wide asphalt lane that stretched between rows of hangar buildings toward a taxiway. Prior to beginning the taxi the pilot had visually checked the lane and had not observed any other aircraft in the lane between his position and the taxiway. The Travel Air is a tailwheel-type configuration, and the pilot was making continuous S-turns to look for obstructions ahead of his position. As he reached the end of the buildings, his propeller collided with the empennage of a stationary Lancair that had been pulled out of the end hangar. The pilot of the Lancair had started his engine and was contacting the Air Traffic Control Tower for a clearance onto the taxiway when the collision occurred. The point of the collision is in a non-movement ramp area not subject to air traffic control separation.
On November 29, 2009, about 1345, a Travel Air 4000, N8700, taxied into a Lancair 235, N880RS, at the Zamperini Field Airport, Torrance, California. The pilots were operating their respective airplanes under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In the Travel Air, the private pilot was not injured; in the Lancair, the airline transport pilot was not injured. The Lancair sustained substantial damage and the Travel Air was not damaged. The Travel Air pilot was repositioning from his hangar to the fueling area; he had no intention of flight. The Lancair pilot was about to taxi to the active runway for the purpose of conducting a personal local-area flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and neither pilot had filed a flight plan. In a written statement, the Travel Air pilot reported that he had taken his airplane out of the hangar and started the engine, noting that no other aircraft appeared to be in the area. He proceeded to taxi down the asphalt area that stretched between the hangar rows (58 feet wide), as he did as part of his normal procedure. With the airplane being a tailwheel type configuration, he was making continuous S-turns to ensure visibly ahead of his position. As he reached the end of the building, he noted that white particles where emanating from the propeller. He shut down the engine and egressed the airplane to discover that his propeller contacted the rudder of the Lancair. The pilot of the Lancair stated that just prior to calling for a taxi clearance the Travel Air collided into the empennage, damaging the rudder, vertical fin, elevators, and horizontal stabilizer. He noted that he was positioned outside of his hangar and stationary.
The Travel Air pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout during taxi.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
