Primary finding
Probable cause
Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other aircraft.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot of N55502, a low-wing airplane, said that he was on final approach at about 400 feet above ground level when he felt a mild jolt and heard a noise. The pilot discovered a flat tire immediately after touchdown, but taxied to the ramp in that condition. The pilot said he was not aware of the collision until after the postflight inspections of both airplanes. The pilot of the other airplane, N5757G, a high-wing airplane, said that he saw the other airplane immediately after the collision and that he landed second and followed N55502 to the ramp. N55502 sustained minor damage to the left main gear wheel pant and left main tire. N5757G sustained minor damage to both propeller tips and superficial damage to the top of the right wing. Both pilots said that they had flown a standard traffic pattern and that they had been making position announcements on the multicom radio frequency of 122.900.
Source record
Factual narrative
Aircraft 2 On February 7, 2009, about 1400 central standard time, a Piper 28-180, N55502, registered to Blue Valley Flying Club, Inc., collided in-flight with a Cessna 150K, N5757G, registered to a private individual, when both airplanes were on final approach to landing on runway 35 at Fairmont State Airfield (FMZ), Fairmont, Nebraska. There were no injuries to the two pilots, who were the only persons onboard, and both airplanes sustained minor damage Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for either of the two 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. N55502 had departed Hebron Municipal Airport (HJH) Hebron Nebraska and N5757G had departed from Crete Municipal Airport (CEK) Crete, Nebraska. The pilot of N55502, the low wing airplane, was on final approach at about 400 feet above ground level (AGL) when he felt a mild jolt and heard a noise. The pilot discovered a flat tire immediately after touchdown, but taxied to the ramp in that condition. N55502 said he was not aware of the collision until after the post flight inspections of both airplanes. The pilot of N5757G, the high wing airplane, said he saw the other airplane immediately after the collision. He landed second and followed N55502 to the ramp. N55502 sustained minor damage to the left main gear wheel pant and left main tire. N5757G sustained minor damage to both propeller tips and superficial damage to the top of the right wing. Both pilots said they had flown a standard traffic pattern. Both pilots said they had been making position announcements on the multicom radio frequency of 122.900. --- Aircraft 1 On February 7, 2009, about 1400 central standard time, a Piper 28-180, N55502, registered to Blue Valley Flying Club, Inc., collided in-flight with a Cessna 150K, N5757G, registered to a private individual, when both airplanes were on final approach to landing on runway 35 at Fairmont State Airfield (FMZ), Fairmont, Nebraska. There were no injuries to the two pilots, who were the only persons on board, and both airplanes sustained minor damage Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for either of the two 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. N55502 had departed Hebron Municipal Airport (HJH) Hebron Nebraska and N5757G had departed from Crete Municipal Airport (CEK) Crete, Nebraska. The pilot of N55502, the low wing airplane, was on final approach at about 400 feet above ground level (AGL) when he felt a mild jolt and heard a noise. The pilot discovered a flat tire immediately after touchdown, but taxied to the ramp in that condition. N55502 said he was not aware of the collision until after the post flight inspections of both airplanes. The pilot of N5757G, the high wing airplane, said he saw the other airplane immediately after the collision. He landed second and followed N55502 to the ramp. N55502 sustained minor damage to the left main gear wheel pant and left main tire. N5757G sustained minor damage to both propeller tips and superficial damage to the top of the right wing. Both pilots said they had flown a standard traffic pattern. Both pilots said they had been making position announcements on the multicom radio frequency of 122.900.