Cessna 172 N8350U and Piper J3C N88470 accident near New Carlisle, Ohio

Probable cause

The pilot’s decision to land on an occupied runway and his failure to see and avoid the other airplane.

The other pilot’s decision to land on an occupied runway and his failure to see and avoid the airplane.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped Piper reported that his airplane was not equipped with a radio and that the forward visibility was not good when taxiing while piloting the airplane from the rear seat. He entered a left downwind for the runway, saw no other aircraft while on final, and continued to land. He added that, during the landing roll, as he turned to clear the runway, his airplane collided with a Cessna airplane that was taxiing on the same runway after having landed on it from the opposite direction. He reported that he did not see the Cessna before the collision.

The Piper sustained substantial damage to the right wing's front spar.

The pilot of the Cessna reported that, while flying local in the traffic pattern, he announced his position and intent to land on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency during all landings while simultaneously visually checking right and left for traffic. He added that, as he was taxiing on the runway toward the exit after landing, he saw the Piper land in the opposite direction on the same runway. Subsequently, the Piper turned diagonally across the runway toward the Cessna, and the two airplanes collided.

The Cessna sustained substantial damage to its right wing.

Both pilots reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with either airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA17CA223 for the full record.