Beech S35 N6027F and Yakovlev YAK-50 N613BM accident near Watsonville, California

Probable cause

The Yak-50 pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from another airplane while taxiing and maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inattention due to a distraction inside the cockpit.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the Yak-50 reported that he started taxiing from the airport transient area towards the active runway as the lead airplane for a formation training flight with three airplanes following behind. He remarked that there is no forward visibility in his tailwheel equipped airplane and typically completes S turns to improve his visibility. However, the pilot assumed the approaching run-up area was clear and was concerned that the airplane’s pneumatic system was low, so he decided not to perform any additional turns to conserve air. He traversed the intersecting runway and still did not accomplish an S turn because he was now distracted by the radio and still trying to conserve air. As he approached the engine run-up area he looked to the left and then looked to the right at which time he observed his right wingtip contact the propeller of the Beechcraft S35, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing.

According to the pilot of the Beechcraft S35, he had finished his engine run-up at the active runway and was waiting for airplanes to pass and takeoff before he departed. While configuring his radio for the flight he noticed movement on his left and observed the Yak-50 moving quickly. The Yak-50 did not follow the curve of the taxiway and its right wing impacted his airplane.

The pilots of both airplanes reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies or malfunctions that could have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR24LA317 for the full record.