NYC93LA074

Factual narrative

On Wednesday, April 7, 1993, at about 1250 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA 28 180, N3866R, piloted by Mr. William Durgin, collided with a Taylorcraft BC 12D, N43645, piloted by Mr. Peter Bolinsky, during the landing roll at North Central State Airport, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The Piper received minor damage and the Taylorcraft was substantially damaged. There were no injuries on the Piper and the two occupants of the Taylorcraft were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plans had been filed. The flights were being conducted under 14 CFR 91. The Taylorcraft, N43645, had landed on runway 05 and was taxiing across the intersection of runways 05 and 15 at a slow speed to the parking area. Piper, N3866R, landed on runway 15. The Taylorcraft pilot saw the Piper approach to his left at a 45 degree angle and added power. As the Taylorcraft accelerated the propeller and left wing of the Piper struck the Taylorcraft in the tail area. The pilot of the Taylorcraft said he was in the local pattern for about 30 minutes prior to the accident and according to the pilot, "...aircraft never left airport pattern RW 5 continually in use during this time by this aircraft (43645) and other pilots..." While on downwind, the pilot of the Taylorcraft heard the pilot of the Piper announce that he intended to land at North Central. The Taylorcraft pilot said, "...I assumed the aircraft was behind since no aircraft were in front or to the side of me...I announced my position (via radio hand held Terra)...turning base leg to RW 5...final approach...and area scanned for aircraft..." The Taylorcraft pilot landed and during roll out at a slow speed crossed the intersection of runways 5/15, when he saw the Piper approaching from the left. He attempted to accelerate with the throttle, but his airplane was struck in the rear by the Piper. Piper, N3866R, departed from the Worcester, MA at approximately 1230. The pilot of N3866R said he tried to make radio contact over the Unicom frequency at North Central, but "...there was no response and no traffic using the frequency..." According to the pilot's statement on the NTSB Form 6120.1/2: "...other airports were heard on the frequency. All seemed to be landing to the south...I noticed a smokestake [sic] with smoke blowing towards the North and tentatively selected runway 15 for landing. At five miles out...I announced to local traffic my intention of entering left downwind for runway 15. I flew directly towards the field searching for traffic and turned so as to pass just to the east...I saw no traffic...I announced...I was east of the field and would enter a left downwind for runway 15. I swung more east, turned back toward the field...began 45 degree entry...announced that I was entering the left downwind for 15. I announced...left base for 15...another aircraft called from about 10 miles out...there was no Unicom response and no other North Central traffic. I announced my turn to final on 15...On touchdown, I saw the Taylorcraft touching down on runway 05. I applied my brakes and attempted to avoid the Taylorcraft...I thought it would stop...its speed was not decreasing. I tried to swing right to pass behind the Taylorcraft there [but] was contact between my propeller and left wing its tail at the intersection of the runways. I was traveling approximately 15 to 20 mph at the time..." FAA Inspector, Jim Volner said: "...according to statements of the pilots and witness, both had just landed. The Taylorcraft...had completed its landing roll and was at taxi speed...[pilot] heard Cherokee [Piper], on his portable radio, approaching the airport...Taylorcraft pilot did not clear the intersection before proceeding through. The resulting lack of timely "see and avoid" procedures caused the Taylorcraft to continue into the intersection as the landing Piper attempted to stop. The Cherokee [Piper] also did not "see and avoid" by observing the Taylorcraft while flying the airport traffic pattern. The Taylorcraft had been practicing take offs and landings for the previous half hour...at the airport...the Cherokee [Piper] pilot indicated he flew a correct pattern for...runway 15...he claims he made radio calls and flew accepted patterns, at no time was there any indication whether the Taylorcraft was observed. Had the Cherokee [Piper] flown as stated, I find it difficult to believe the Taylorcraft would not have been seen at some point. Although speculation, it is my opinion that the Cherokee [Piper] was flown "straight in". The aircraft departed Worcester, Massachusetts, enroute to North Central...which would have been on a direct heading to runway 15...AWOS...in use at the time...[indicated] the winds were from a direction that either runway could have been equally used. No landing runway information was available...Unicom was not in use at the time..." TAYLORCRAFT, N43645, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 05. PIPER PA-28-180, N3866R, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 15. THE TAYLORCRAFT HAD COMPLETED ITS LANDING ROLL AND WAS AT TAXI SPEED AS IT ENTERED THE INTERSECTION OF RUNWAYS 05 AND 15. THE PILOT OF THE PIPER ATTEMPTED TO STOP AND TURN THE AIRPLANE TO THE RIGHT IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID HITTING THE TAYLORCRAFT, BUT HIS AIRPLANE STRUCK THE TAYLORCRAFT IN THE TAIL WITH THE PROPELLER AND LEFT WING, WHILE BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE IN THE INTERSECTIONS. THE TAYLORCRAFT PILOT SAID HE WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR ABOUT ONE HALF HOUR PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, PRACTICING LANDINGS AND TAKEOFFS. THE PIPER PILOT HAD FLOWN INTO THE AIRPORT PATTERN FROM ANOTHER AIRPORT. BOTH PILOTS SAID THEY ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTIONS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE WEATHER REPORTS AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT INDICATED THAT THE WINDS WERE FROM A DIRECTION THAT EITHER RUNWAY COULD HAVE BEEN USED. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT NO LANDING RUNWAY INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE BY RADIO BECAUSE THE UNICOM WAS NOT IN USE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12