Vans Aircraft INC RV-12 and Boeing E75 mid-air collision near Williamson, Georgia, November 10, 2012
On November 10, 2012 at about 3:55 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Vans Aircraft INC RV-12 (N678AD) and Boeing E75 (N1370V), were involved in a mid-air collision near Williamson, Georgia (Peach State airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in a midair collision.
The inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in a midair collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 10, 2012 · about 3:55 pm local time
- Place
- Williamson, Georgia · Peach State · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Vans Aircraft INC RV-12, built 2010
- Registration
- N678AD · registry record · serial 120093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing E75, built 1943 · all E75s on the register
- Registration
- N1370V · registry record · serial 75-5185
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Vans Aircraft INC RV-12 final · quoted from the NTSB record
An amateur-built Vans RV-12 (RV-12) intended to land at the non-towered airport, while a Boeing E75 (Stearman), which was the lead airplane in a flight of three Stearmans planned to over-fly the airport at the traffic pattern altitude as part of a fly-in event being held at the airport. The pilot of the RV-12 overflew the airport at an altitude of about 600 feet above the traffic pattern altitude and entered a right downwind for runway 13. Both pilots stated that they communicated their respective positions and intentions over the airport's common traffic advisory frequency. In addition, they were attempting to visually acquire each other when the two airplanes collided. Both pilots were subsequently able to land their respective airplanes without further incident. Examination of the airplanes revealed that the lower left side of the RV-12's fuselage just aft of the cowling, and the Stearman's rudder sustained substantial damage. The damage was consistent with the RV-12 flying on a northwest heading and Stearman flying on a northerly heading, at the time of the collision. Weather permitting, each pilot was required to maintain vigilance to see and avoid other aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
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 Boeing E75 final · quoted from the NTSB record
An amateur-built Vans RV-12 (RV-12) intended to land at the non-towered airport, while a Boeing E75 (Stearman), which was the lead airplane in a flight of three Stearmans planned to over-fly the airport at the traffic pattern altitude as part of a fly-in event being held at the airport. The pilot of the RV-12 overflew the airport at an altitude of about 600 feet above the traffic pattern altitude and entered a right downwind for runway 13. Both pilots stated that they communicated their respective positions and intentions over the airport's common traffic advisory frequency. In addition, they were attempting to visually acquire each other when the two airplanes collided. Both pilots were subsequently able to land their respective airplanes without further incident. Examination of the airplanes revealed that the lower left side of the RV-12's fuselage just aft of the cowling, and the Stearman's rudder sustained substantial damage. The damage was consistent with the RV-12 flying on a northwest heading and Stearman flying on a northerly heading, at the time of the collision. Weather permitting, each pilot was required to maintain vigilance to see and avoid other aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
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 Vans Aircraft INC RV-12 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,638 hours in all; 151 in this make and model; 32 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,595 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 27, 2011
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 150 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 5, 2012; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 150 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CVC Atlanta GA at 3:25 pm
- Destination: GA2 Williamson GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from 6A2, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Boeing E75 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 23,064 hours in all; 1,650 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 14,358 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 928 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 2012; 33 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W670-6N (piston); 714 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 62GA Jackson GA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: GA2 Williamson GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,400 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.