Southwest Iowa Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Burlington, Iowa 52601
Saturday, January 29, 2011 16:15 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the Zodiac made radio calls when he was 10 miles and 5 miles from the airport to inform other aircraft of his position. He also made position reports when he turned left onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, and again when he was on short final for landing. About 90 feet from the taxiway turnoff, the Zodiac was hit from the rear. The Zodiac pilot taxied off the runway and, looking back, he could see the Model 1, a red and white biplane, behind him. The horizontal and vertical stabilizers of the Zodiac were destroyed by the propeller strike from the Model 1. The Model 1 received minor damage to the engine cowl. The pilot of the Model 1, who was seated in the rear seat of the airplane during the flight, reported that he did not see the Zodiac prior to landing or while taxiing. The Model 1 was not equipped with either an installed or handheld radio.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The Model 1 pilot's inadequate visual lookout and subsequent failure to see and avoid the Zodiac.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/29/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1615
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Burlington
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 52601
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 404659N
Event Location Longitude 0910731W
Event Location Airport Southwest Iowa Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BRL
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1600 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID BRL
Elevation of weather observation facility 698
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
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) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
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) 28201
NTSB Notification Source FAA-CEN-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 4 2011 12:45PM
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 N200BE N602CB
NTSB Number CEN11LA168A CEN11LA168B
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
Damage Substantial Minor
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ERTZ MARK G CUNNINGHAM
Aircraft Model ZODIAC 601XL MODEL-1
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 6-6494 446-18-1830
Certified Max Gross Weight -- --
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes 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 Conditional Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2010 12:00AM Jan 15 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours 488 --
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated Yes No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name ERTZ MARK G BUSS WILLIAM D
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2104 VOGT ST 320 SPYGLASS RD
Aircraft Owner City BURLINGTON MCQUEENEY
Aircraft Owner State IA TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 52601-2550 78123-3418
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name ERTZ MARK G Edward Merchant
Operator Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Street Address 2104 VOGT ST --
Operator City BURLINGTON Vinton
Operator State IA IA
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 52601-2550 52349
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
Departure Point Same as Event Yes No
Departure Airport Code BRL UIN
Departure City Burlington Quincy
Departure State IA IL
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1500 1515
Departure Time Zone CST CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code BRL BRL
Destination City Burlington Burlington
Destination State IA IA
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 4 2011 12:46PM Apr 4 2011 12:46PM
User who most recently changed record bowl bowl
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36 35
Runway Length 5500 5500
Runway Width 200 200
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --