GC-1B N78074 and Textron Aviation Cessna T206H N844CP accident near Minden, Nevada

Probable cause

The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid the other airplane while operating in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in a midair collision.

NTSB analysis

A high-winged Cessna and low-winged Swift collided in midair while operating in the traffic pattern for the same destination runway. The Cessna had completed a touch-and-go landing and was climbing on the left crosswind leg toward the traffic pattern altitude. The Swift was approaching the airport from the northwest/west on a southeast-bound 45° intercept to the left downwind leg off the traffic pattern. About 17 seconds before the presumed collision time, the Swift pilot transmitted on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency that he was entering the area on a 45° intercept to the downwind leg. The Cessna pilots subsequently began scanning for the Swift, and the right-seated pilot also checked the traffic display. The Swift was not equipped with ADS-B, no traffic target was displayed in the Cessna, and neither Cessna pilot visually acquired the Swift before impact. The Cessna pilots did not state their position after completing the touch-and-go until after the Swift pilot made a transmission of his position, which was just before impact. If the Cessna pilots had made an earlier position transmission it may have given the Swift pilot an opportunity to make visual contact while approaching the airport.

Recorded data from the Cessna, video evidence, and the physical contact signatures on both airplanes were consistent with the Cessna climbing into the Swift from below and aft. Video evidence showed the Swift slightly above the Cessna immediately before the collision. The Cessna’s forward engine and propeller area contacted the lower aft fuselage and tailwheel area of the Swift, resulting in separation of portions of the Swift’s tail section. The relative positions of the airplanes would have placed the Cessna in or near the Swift pilot’s aft blind area. Although the Swift would have been ahead of and slightly above the Cessna during the closing sequence, its limited relative motion against the background likely reduced its visibility to the Cessna pilots. The available evidence was consistent with the pilots of both airplanes not visually acquiring the other airplane in sufficient time to avoid the collision.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR24FA304 for the full record.