Pilot Debrief

SHPAKOW THOMAS SA 750 near Brighton, CO — 2010-08-14

Final reportCEN10LA487
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Date
2010-08-14
Location
Brighton, CO, USA
Airport
CO12
Aircraft
SHPAKOW THOMAS SA 750
Registration
N28KT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The radio-controlled airplane operator’s decision to maneuver his airplane outside of the designated operating area, resulting in a collision with a bi-plane. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a formally designated spotter.

NTSB narrative

During a local fly-in event, a radio controlled airplane collided with a bi-plane while the bi-plane was performing a go-around. The radio controlled airplane was performing a hover maneuver just prior to the collision and initiated an escape maneuver which placed the radio controlled airplane right into the flight path of the bi-plane. The bi-plane sustained substantial damage, but was able to land without further incident. The radio controlled airplane was destroyed. Prior to the event, the event coordinator briefed the participants that they were to operate their radio controlled airplanes to the east of the runway, and not directly in the runway environment. While the event coordinator was monitoring the radio for traffic, it was not clearly communicated who, if anyone, was providing spotter duties for the radio controlled airplane operator prior to the collision.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Event coordinator should have ensured no RC planes were flying during bi-plane's approach.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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