Pilot Debrief

SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP G-164B near Biggs, CA — 2013-05-09

Final reportWPR13LA223
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Date
2013-05-09
Location
Biggs, CA, USA
Airport
Priv
Aircraft
SCHWEIZER AIRCRAFT CORP G-164B
Registration
N8214S
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Landing

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to adequately monitor the runway environment during taxi, which resulted in an on-ground collision.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while in the traffic pattern for landing, he was told by ground operations personnel that maintenance was being performed on the runway. The pilot scanned the area and saw trucks parked on the south end of the airstrip property but nothing on the runway. The pilot continued the landing, and taxied the airplane down the runway after landing. Although the pilot was performing s-turns for visibility purposes, he did not see service equipment on the runway, and the airplane collided with it and the operator of that equipment. The operator, who was fatally injured, was pushing a blower down the center of the runway and was wearing hearing protection at the time of the collision. It is likely that, due to the hearing protection and the sound of the blower, the operator did not hear the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed minor damage to both the inlet scoop and the lower right wing lower surface.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have confirmed runway was clear before landing.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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