Varga Aircraft CORP. 2150A and Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 accident near Clinton, Iowa, September 13, 2012
On September 13, 2012, 2 aircraft, Varga Aircraft CORP. 2150A (N4651V) and Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 (N3793F), were involved in the same accident near Clinton, Iowa (Clinton Municipal Airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot of the other airplane failing to adequately monitor for other aircraft while landing.
The pilot's failure to adequately monitor for other aircraft while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2012
- Place
- Clinton, Iowa · Clinton Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Varga Aircraft CORP. 2150A · all 2150As on the register
- Registration
- N4651V · no longer on the register · serial VAC-101-78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 · all 2T-1A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N3793F · no longer on the register · serial 0767
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Varga Aircraft CORP. 2150A final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Great Lakes biplane was landing when the airplane struck the rear of a Varga airplane that had previously landed and was still on the runway. According to the pilot of the Great Lakes, he did not see the other airplane until the impact occurred. The Varga had completed a straight-in approach following a practice instrument approach. The Great Lakes landed using a left hand traffic pattern approach to landing. FAA regulations state that when two airplanes are approaching to land at the same airport, the airplane at the lower altitude has the right of way. The airport was a non-towered airport, and both pilots reported that they had announced their positions in the airport traffic pattern. Regulations did not prohibit the use of a straight-in approach.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of a Great Lakes biplane was landing when the airplane struck the rear of a Varga airplane that had previously landed and was still on the runway. According to the pilot of the Great Lakes, he did not see the other airplane until the impact occurred. The Varga had completed a straight-in approach following a practice instrument approach. The Great Lakes landed using a left hand traffic pattern approach to landing. FAA regulations state that when two airplanes are approaching to land at the same airport, the airplane at the lower altitude has the right of way. The airport was a non-towered airport, and both pilots reported that they had announced their positions in the airport traffic pattern. Regulations did not prohibit the use of a straight-in approach.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Varga Aircraft CORP. 2150A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,440 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 2,219 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 25, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,799 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 22, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CWI Clinton IA at 11:10 pm
- Destination: CWI Clinton IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 5,204 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from CWI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
The factual record for the Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,496 hours in all; 360 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 1,496 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 8, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,591 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVN Davenport IA at 11:30 pm
- Destination: CWI Clinton IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 5,204 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN12LA629.