Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Ripon, Wisconsin 54971
Tuesady, July 27, 2010 12:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot of the PA-11, a high-wing airplane, prior to entering the arrival route he performed a visual check to look for traffic in the area and then crossed Ripon, WI, at 90 knots and at an altitude of 1,800 feet. According to the pilot of the PA-32, a low-wing airplane, prior to entering the arrival route at Ripon he performed a visual check to look for traffic in the area, slowed to 90 knots, and descended to 1,800 feet. He increased his airspeed to between 95 and 100 knots upon hearing controllers advise pilots to keep their speed up. The pilot of the PA-11 observed the PA-32 come from above him, impact his propeller, and continue past him. Both airplanes landed without further incident. Examination of both airplanes revealed damage indicating a collision between the propeller blade of the PA-11 and the left main landing gear tire of the PA-32. No other damage was noted; an examination of the airframe and systems on both airplanes revealed no preexisting anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inability of either pilot to see the other airplane due to the blind spot created by their respective airplane's wings.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 7/27/2010
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1215
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Ripon
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 54971
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1153 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID KOSH
Elevation of weather observation facility 808
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27924
NTSB Notification Source KOSH Control Tower
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2010 5:40PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N8159B N78659
NTSB Number CEN10IA447A CEN10IA447B
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 Minor Minor
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-32R-301 PA-11
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 32R-8013061 11-1420
Certified Max Gross Weight -- 1220
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 7 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 9 2010 12:00AM Jul 1 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours 4268 5997.8
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name HEITZMANN DONALD F PEARCE DAVID E
Aircraft Owner Street Address 150 ROCKY HILL RD 40949 PEARCE CIR
Aircraft Owner City REHOBOTH LEESBURG
Aircraft Owner State MA VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02769 20176-7110
Operator is an individual? No Yes
Operator Name HEITZMANN DONALD F PEARCE DAVID E
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address 150 ROCKY HILL RD 40949 PEARCE CIR
Operator City REHOBOTH LEESBURG
Operator State MA VA
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 02769 20176-7110
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
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 No No
Departure Airport Code KUNU KDKB
Departure City Juneau De Kalb
Departure State WI IL
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1200 1140
Departure Time Zone CDT CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt -- --
Destination Airport Code KOSH KOSH
Destination City Oshkosh Oshkosh
Destination State WI WI
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 24 2010 12:07PM Sep 24 2010 11:48AM
User who most recently changed record kaij kaij
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18R 09
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --