Nakajima A6M2 MODEL 21 N8280K
15 March 2016 · Midland, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 15 March 2016 at about 20:50 local time, a Nakajima A6M2 MODEL 21 registered N8280K was involved in an accident near Midland, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:50
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Midland, Texas, United States
- Nearest airport
- Midland Intl (MAF)
- Coordinates
- 31.9336, -102.2042
- Aircraft
- Nakajima A6M2 MODEL 21
- Registration
- N8280K
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1941
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Positioning
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Midland → Albuquerque
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN16CA126
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The Goodyear pilot did not see and avoid the Nakajima ahead on the taxiway.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The six-ship formation of vintage World War II airplanes had completed their run-ups on the taxiway and were preparing for departure. A departure clearance was received from air traffic control and the six-ship formation proceeded to the runway for takeoff. The Goodyear "Corsair" airplane was sixth in formation and trailing the Nakajima "Zero" airplane. These tailwheel airplanes required the pilots to taxi in an S-turn pattern due to the limited forward visibility. As the Corsair pilot proceeded with the S-turn taxi to the runway, the Corsair overtook the Zero and collided with its tail. The Zero spun right about 270 degrees and came to rest. The Corsair stopped quickly and its propeller impacted the taxiway. The Zero sustained substantial damage to the empennage and the Corsair sustained minor damage. The pilots conducted an accident debrief and determined that a lack of "vigilance" was to blame. Both pilots reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframes or engines that would have precluded normal operation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nakajima A6M2 MODEL 21 | N8280K | - | Substantial |
| Goodyear FG1D | N209TW | - | Minor |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 2016 | Waco YMF-F5C | Austin, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 2016 | Piper PA 34 | Denton, Texas, United States | U S Aviation Group LLC | No injuries | - |
| 8 Jul 2016 | Cessna 152 | Bridgeport, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 18 Jan 2016 | Aviat A-1C | Breckenridge, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Dec 2016 | Hiller OH 23B | Tynan, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 2016 | Piper PA 28RT-201 | Terrell, Texas, United States | J. Linn Aviation Inc | No injuries | - |