Miller Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Valentine, Nebraska 69201
Friday, July 27, 2012 13:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The accident airplanes were part of a flight of four airplanes. The first airplane, an RV-4, landed and exited the runway. The second airplane, another RV-4, landed and was in the process of turning off the runway at a runway intersection. Although the third airplane, an RV-6, had been making S-turns for spacing behind the second RV-4, he did not obtain proper separation and landed and collided with it. The fourth airplane, an RV-4, abandoned the approach, went around, and then landed uneventfully. The RV-6 pilot said he expected that the pilot of the second RV-4 would roll out to the end of the runway.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The RV-6 pilot's failure to monitor the location of the RV-4, resulting in the on-ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the RV-6 pilot not ensuring proper separation from the RV-4 and his expectation that the pilot of RV-4 would roll out to the end of the runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/27/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1350
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Valentine
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 69201
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 425124N
Event Location Longitude 1003256W
Event Location Airport Miller Field Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KVTN
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 2595
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1352 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KVTN
Elevation of weather observation facility 2595
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KVTN 271852Z AUTO 08007KT 10SM CLR 31/10 A3009
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30769
NTSB Notification Source Lincoln, NE, FAA Flight Standa
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 3 2012 9:08AM
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 N122JA N766HS
NTSB Number CEN12LA488A CEN12LA488B
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? -- --
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Joseph C. Andrews, Jr. Harold H. Smith
Aircraft Model Vans Vans
Aircraft Series Identifier RV-4 --
Aircraft Serial Number 2113 20509
Certified Max Gross Weight 1600 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes No
Flight Crew Seats 2 2
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 2012 12:00AM Apr 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours 1013 1030
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type -- Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Joseph C. Andrews, Jr. Harold H. Smith
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4322 Crystal Lane Ct. 5707 N. Ruby St.
Aircraft Owner City Puyallup Tacoma
Aircraft Owner State WA WA
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98372-5293 98407-3019
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name Joseph C. Andrews, Jr. Harold H. Smith
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City Puyallup Tacoma
Operator State WA WA
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 98372-5293 98407-3019
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 KMJQ KMJQ
Departure City Jackson Jackson
Departure State MN MN
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1000 1000
Departure Time Zone CDT CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code KVTN KVTN
Destination City Valentine Valentine
Destination State NE NE
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 4 2012 2:40PM Oct 4 2012 2:39PM
User who most recently changed record scoa scoa
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14 14
Runway Length 4704 4704
Runway Width 75 75
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --