Amateur-built 235 N290W and Cessna 140 N3656V accident near Louisa, Virginia

Probable cause

The Cessna pilot's inadequate visual lookout.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna was taxiing to the runway for takeoff when she impacted a Lancair that was holding short of the runway. The Cessna pilot had seen the Lancair in front of her, but briefly lost sight of it prior to the collision. Following the collision, both pilots shut down their airplanes and exited without incident. They observed that the Cessna's propeller had struck the right horizontal stabilizer and empennage of the Lancair several times, resulting in substantial damage to the Lancair.

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Cessna was taxiing to the runway for takeoff when she impacted an amateur-built that was holding short of the runway. The Cessna pilot had seen the amateur-built in front of her, but briefly lost sight of it prior to the collision. Following the collision, both pilots shut down their airplanes and exited without incident. They observed that the Cessna's propeller had struck the right horizontal stabilizer and empennage of the amateur-built several times, resulting in substantial damage to the amateur-built.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09LA506 for the full record.