Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19149
Tuesady, August 17, 2004 8:31 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the Piper contacted the ground controller and was cleared to taxi from the ramp area, to the active runway. The pilot of RV-6A also contacted the ground controller from the same ramp area, and was instructed to follow the Piper to the active runway. The RV-6A pilot looked out his left window and directly ahead, and did not observe the Piper. As the RV-6A began to taxi, the propeller struck the left wing of the Piper as it passed in front of the RV-6A from the right.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of RV-6A and his failure to maintain clearance while taxiing, which resulted in an on-ground collision with the Piper.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/2004
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 831
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Philadelphia
Event State PENNSYLVANIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 19149
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 400454N
Event Location Longitude 0750038W
Event Location Airport Northeast Philadelphia Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PNE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 121
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 854 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID PNE
Elevation of weather observation facility 121
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 17628
NTSB Notification Source Philadelphia FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Aug 18 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1000
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2005 2:59PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA FSDO Philadelphia

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N6816J N181A
NTSB Number NYC04LA194A NYC04LA194B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? No No
Damage Substantial Minor
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper Buchmann
Aircraft Model PA-28-151 RV-6A
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 28-7615365 60280
Certified Max Gross Weight 2325 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No Yes
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 26 2004 12:00AM Nov 4 2003 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 52 114
Airframe Hours 4521 114
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name Soliman Aviation Inc. Oscar A. Buchmann
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City Philadelphia San Pedro
Aircraft Owner State PA CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19154 90731
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name -- --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City -- --
Operator State -- --
Operator Country -- --
Operator Zip code -- --
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? -- --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation -- --
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not -- --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight -- --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail -- --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal Personal
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes Yes
Departure Airport Code PNE PNE
Departure City Philadelphia Philadelphia
Departure State PA PA
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time -- --
Departure Time Zone EDT EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code -- --
Destination City -- --
Destination State -- --
Destination Country -- --
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? No No
Evacuation occurred No No
Date of most recent change to record -- --
User who most recently changed record -- --
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA NA
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --