Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
THE FAILURE BY BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT. FACTORS WERE THE INADEQUATE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS BY BOTH PILOTS, AND THE DEPARTING PILOT'S FAILURE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURES AND DIRECTIVES.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On August 12, 1993, at 1245 central daylight time, two Grumman G-164B airplanes, N8227K and N8255K, were substantially damaged when they collided on the ground near Pioneer, Louisiana. N8227K was taking off and N8255K was landing. Neither commercial pilot operating the airplanes was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flights.
According to the pilot of the departing airplane (N8227K), his airplane was facing south on the loading ramp at the end of the airstrip, while ground personnel reloaded the airplane with chemicals. The pilot stated that, after the loading was completed, he "looked ahead, did not see any aircraft, and proceeded to takeoff." The pilot added that forward visibility was restricted by the top of the wing and the engine cowling while the airplane was in the 3-point attitude.
According to the pilot of the landing airplane, he entered the traffic pattern on a right downwind, to land to the north. Additionally, he added that he observed an airplane (N8227K), being reloaded on the loading pad at the departure end of the strip. During his landing rollout, as he approached the paved portion of the airstrip, he heard the other airplane applying takeoff power, as he observed the airplane gaining speed during the initial phase of his takeoff roll. The pilot of the landing airplane stated that he averted a head-on collision by veering to the right of the strip.
The outer 15 feet of the left wings of the landing airplane impacted the outer 15 feet of the left wings of the departing airplane.
Both airplanes were equipped with two way radios, and were tuned to a common Unicom frequency. According to the operator that owns the airstrip, the common practice at that airstrip is for the departing airplane to announce its intentions on the radio prior to initiating the takeoff roll. The departing pilot stated that he was unable to announce his intention to depart due to frequency congestion at the time of departure.
Both airplanes were released to their respective owners at the accident site.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# FTW93LA238