Boeing PT-13D and Cessna 172H accident near Half Moon Bay, California, November 6, 1993
On November 6, 1993 at about 7:25 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing PT-13D (N14FR) and Cessna 172H (N2718L), were involved in the same accident near Half Moon Bay, California (Half Moon Bay 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
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT OF THE SECOND STEARMAN, AND HIS SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY ON WHICH TO LAND. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE STEARMAN PILOTS TO OBTAIN PERTINENT NOTAM INFORMATION.
IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT OF THE SECOND STEARMAN, AND HIS SELECTION OF THE WRONG RUNWAY ON WHICH TO LAND. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE STEARMAN PILOTS TO OBTAIN PERTINENT NOTAM INFORMATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 6, 1993 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Half Moon Bay, California · Half Moon Bay · 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
- Boeing PT-13D · all PT-13Ds on the register
- Registration
- N14FR · no longer on the register · serial 75-5646
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172H · all 172Hs on the register
- Registration
- N2718L · no longer on the register · serial 17255918
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing PT-13D final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FLIGHT OF 2 STEARMANS FLEW TO A NORMALLY UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. BEFORE FLIGHT, NEITHER HAD RECEIVED NOTAM INFO THAT THE FAA HAD A TEMPORARY CONTROL TOWER (TWR) AT THE AIRPORT. WHILE APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHICH WAS CONGESTED, THE LEAD STEARMAN PILOT CALLED UNICOM & 1ST LEARNED OF THE TWR'S EXISTENCE. THE 2ND STEARMAN PILOT WAS UNAWARE OF THE TWR; HIS AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RADIO EQUIPPED. THE LEAD STEARMAN PILOT SAID SHE TOLD TWR THEY WERE A FLIGHT OF 2. SHE LOST SIGHT OF THE 2ND STEARMAN, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY TWR. SHE GOT A LANDING CLEARANCE FOR HER AIRCRAFT & LANDED ON RUNWAY 30. THE 2ND STEARMAN PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE LEAD STEARMAN, CONCLUDED RUNWAY 12 WAS ACTIVE & LANDED ON THAT RUNWAY. MEAN- WHILE, A CESSNA 172 WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 30. ON ROLL-OUT, THE 172 PILOT SAW THE STEARMAN CONVERGING & STEARED TO THE RIGHT. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE STEARMAN STEARED LEFT & THE 2 PLANES COLLIDED. THE CONTROLLERS DID NOT RECALL HEARING A TRANSMISSION ABOUT A FLIGHT OF 2, NOR DID THEY OBSERVE THE PLANES CONVERGING FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ON THE RUNWAY.
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 Cessna 172H final · quoted from the NTSB record
A FLIGHT OF 2 STEARMANS FLEW TO A NORMALLY UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. BEFORE FLIGHT, NEITHER HAD RECEIVED NOTAM INFO THAT THE FAA HAD A TEMPORARY CONTROL TOWER (TWR) AT THE AIRPORT. WHILE APPROACHING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, WHICH WAS CONGESTED, THE LEAD STEARMAN PILOT CALLED UNICOM & 1ST LEARNED OF THE TWR'S EXISTENCE. THE 2ND STEARMAN PILOT WAS UNAWARE OF THE TWR; HIS AIRCRAFT WAS NOT RADIO EQUIPPED. THE LEAD STEARMAN PILOT SAID SHE TOLD TWR THEY WERE A FLIGHT OF 2. SHE LOST SIGHT OF THE 2ND STEARMAN, BUT DID NOT NOTIFY TWR. SHE GOT A LANDING CLEARANCE FOR HER AIRCRAFT & LANDED ON RUNWAY 30. THE 2ND STEARMAN PILOT LOST SIGHT OF THE LEAD STEARMAN, CONCLUDED RUNWAY 12 WAS ACTIVE & LANDED ON THAT RUNWAY. MEAN- WHILE, A CESSNA 172 WAS CLEARED TO LAND ON RUNWAY 30. ON ROLL-OUT, THE 172 PILOT SAW THE STEARMAN CONVERGING & STEARED TO THE RIGHT. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE STEARMAN STEARED LEFT & THE 2 PLANES COLLIDED. THE CONTROLLERS DID NOT RECALL HEARING A TRANSMISSION ABOUT A FLIGHT OF 2, NOR DID THEY OBSERVE THE PLANES CONVERGING FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS ON THE RUNWAY.
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 Boeing PT-13D from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,500 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,598 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 5, 1993; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming R-680 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Chowchilla CA at 5:45 pm
- Destination: HAF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 12, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172H from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 355 hours in all; 355 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 284 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,289 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1993; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SQL San Carlos CA at 7:15 pm
- Destination: HAF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 LAX94LA039.