Consolidated Vultee BT 15 and Mooney M20J accident near Chino, California, February 13, 2016
On February 13, 2016 at about 10:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Consolidated Vultee BT 15 (N67086) and Mooney M20J (N201DQ), were involved in the same accident near Chino, California (Chino 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 taxiing pilot's failure to remain a safe distance from the stopped airplane while taxiing to the run-up area, resulting in a ground collision and substantial damage.
The taxiing pilot's failure to remain a safe distance from the stopped airplane while taxiing to the run-up area, resulting in a ground collision and substantial damage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 13, 2016 · about 10:10 pm local time
- Place
- Chino, California · Chino · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Consolidated Vultee BT 15 NO SERIES, built 1943 · all BT 15s on the register
- Registration
- N67086 · registry record · serial 9597
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Mooney M20J, built 1977 · all M20Js on the register
- Registration
- N201DQ · registry record · serial 24-0091
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Consolidated Vultee BT 15 final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the taxiing pilot, during taxi to the run-up area in order to perform a maintenance check, he attempted to maneuver around an airplane that had stopped in the non-movement area. He reported that the left wing of his airplane impacted the tail of the stopped airplane. According to the pilot of the stopped airplane, he had taxied out of the refuel station in order to allow other aircraft to refuel. He reported that he taxied south and stopped in the non-movement area next to the aircraft tie downs, where he remained stopped for approximately five minutes as he set up the radios and received the ATIS information for his flight. He reported that he felt an impact from the rear of his airplane; he shut down his engine, and exited the airplane. The taxiing airplane sustained minor damage to the left wing and stopped airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and vertical stabilizer. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the taxi that would have prevented normal flight operation.
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 Mooney M20J final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the taxiing pilot, during taxi to the run-up area in order to perform a maintenance check, he attempted to maneuver around an airplane that had stopped in the non-movement area. He reported that the left wing of his airplane impacted the tail of the stopped airplane. According to the pilot of the stopped airplane, he had taxied out of the refuel station in order to allow other aircraft to refuel. He reported that he taxied south and stopped in the non-movement area next to the aircraft tie downs, where he remained stopped for approximately five minutes as he set up the radios and received the ATIS information for his flight. He reported that he felt an impact from the rear of his airplane; he shut down his engine, and exited the airplane. The taxiing airplane sustained minor damage to the left wing and stopped airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and vertical stabilizer. Both pilots reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane prior to or during the taxi that would have prevented normal flight operation.
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 Consolidated Vultee BT 15 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,200 hours in all; 3,195 in this make and model; 3,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 29, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 4,496 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985 (piston); 794 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from KCNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Mooney M20J from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 467 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 375 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,207.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,899 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming I0360A3B6D (piston); 1,208 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CNO Chino CA
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
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.