Trudel GP 4 C-GTPX
17 September 2017 · Reno, Nevada, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 17 September 2017 at about 15:20 local time, a Trudel GP 4 registered C-GTPX was involved in an accident near Reno, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was slightly damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Reno, Nevada, United States
- Nearest airport
- Reno/Stead (RTS)
- Coordinates
- 39.6514, -119.8586
- Aircraft
- Trudel GP 4
- Registration
- C-GTPX
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2016
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Air Race/Show
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Reno → Reno
- Aircraft damage
- Minor
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR17LA209
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from another airplane during the line-abreast formation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
During the initial start of an air race, nine airplanes were positioned in a line-abreast formation. The RV-8 was positioned in the No. 7 slot, and the GP 4 was right of the RV-8 in the No. 8 slot. The RV-8 pilot reported that, during the race start, he felt an air current push down his airplane. He then moved forward of the No. 6 slot airplane and initiated corrections to reestablish his position within the formation. The GP 4 pilot reported that he saw the RV-8 descend below his airplane's left wing and that he reduced power while initiating a slight right bank in an attempt to "back out" of the formation. The pilot who was in the No. 9 slot reported that he observed the GP-4 move forward back into the formation very quickly. At that time, he noticed the pilot of the GP-4 trying to slow or correct his position to the right using ailerons. Shortly after, the propeller of the GP-4 struck the right aileron of the RV-8. Following the collision, the RV-8 entered an uncommanded left roll; however, the pilot was able to level the airplane and land uneventfully. The GP-4 pilot pitched his airplane upward and rolled right to avoid the surrounding airplanes and was also able to land the airplane uneventfully. It is likely that, if the pilot of the GP-4 had maintained adequate lateral distance from the RV-8 while advancing forward to maintain a line-abreast formation, he would have been able to maintain clearance from the RV-8 as it descended and would not have needed to bank right, which further reduced the GP-4 pilot's visual contact with the RV-8 and led to the midair collision.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trudel GP 4 | C-GTPX | - | Minor |
| Farnsworth RV-8 | N248DF | - | Substantial |
Other accidents in this area
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Feb 2017 | Eurocopter EC130 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Maverick Helicopters Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 2017 | Bellanca 17-30A | Carson City, Nevada, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 2017 | Cessna A185 | Henderson, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 31 Jul 2017 | Air Tractor AT 802A | Wells, Nevada, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Mar 2017 | Lancair COLUMBIA 400 | Henderson, Nevada, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jun 2017 | Eurocopter EC 130 B4 | Boulder City, Nevada, United States | Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters | Minor injuries | - |