ATL82DA123

Factual narrative

THE CESSNA 172 PILOT PERFORMED HIS PREFLIGHT ENGINE RUN-UP ON THE TAXIWAY, THEN WAITED FOR A TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT TO LAND. HE REPORTED THAT AFTER THE TWIN ENGINE LANDED, HE RADIOED HIS INTENTION, DOUBLE CHECKED THE FINAL APPROACH AREA, AND WITH NO OTHER AIRCRAFT IN SIGHT, HE TAXIED ONTO THE RUNWAY. WHILE THE CESSNA 172 PILOT WAS WAITING FOR THE TWIN ENGINE AIRCRAFT TO LAND, A BOEING A75N1 (STEARMAN) PILOT EXTENDED HIS PATTERN AND TURNED ON A LONG FINAL APPROACH. THE STEARMAN PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DID THIS TO ALLOW THE TWIN ENGINE PLANE TO LAND AHEAD OF HIM. AS THE STEARMAN PILOT CONTINUED, HE DID NOT SEE THE BEIGE COLORED CESSNA 172 TAXI ONTO THE RUNWAY. HE REPORTED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS POOR FROM THE BACK SEAT. ALSO, THE STEARMAN WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A RADIO. AS THE CESSNA PILOT ADVANCED HIS POWER TO TAKEOFF, HIS LEFT WING WAS STRUCK BY THE STEARMAN'S LANDING GEAR. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12