Amateur-built IV LANCAIR and Hawker Siddeley SEA FURY TMK 20 accident near Reno, Nevada, September 21, 1998
On September 21, 1998 at about 4:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built IV LANCAIR (N805L) and Hawker Siddeley SEA FURY TMK 20 (N24SF), were involved in the same accident near Reno, Nevada (Reno/Stead airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot of the overtaking taxiing aircraft to maintain adequate visual surveillance of the taxiway in front of his aircraft to avoid the collision.
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain adequate visual surveillance of the taxiway in front of his aircraft to avoid the collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1998 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Reno, Nevada · Reno/Stead · 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
- Amateur-built IV LANCAIR
- Registration
- N805L · registry record · serial LIV-25
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Hawker Siddeley SEA FURY TMK 20 SEA FURY T
- Registration
- N24SF · registry record · serial 37517
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built IV LANCAIR final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Lancair was holding position on the taxiway while awaiting takeoff when it was struck from behind by a Hawker Sea Fury. The Lancair pilot was stopped 500 to 600 feet behind a military C-130 transport aircraft in front of him to avoid thrust turbulence. The pilot of the tail wheel equipped Sea Fury, also taxiing for takeoff, reported that he was unaware of the presence of the smaller aircraft and never saw it on the taxiway ahead until the propeller of his aircraft began striking the empennage of the Lancair. The Sea Fury pilot reported difficulty s-turning while taxiing due to thrust turbulence from other military fighter aircraft on the ramp adjacent to the taxiway he was using.
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 Hawker Siddeley SEA FURY TMK 20 final · quoted from the NTSB record
An experimental Lancair was holding position on the taxiway awaiting takeoff when it was struck from behind by the taxiing Hawker Sea Fury. The Lancair pilot had stopped 500 to 600 feet behind a military C-130 transport aircraft in front of him to avoid thrust turbulence. The pilot of the tail wheel equipped Sea Fury, also taxiing for takeoff, reported that he was unaware of the presence of the smaller aircraft and never saw it on the taxiway ahead until the propeller of his aircraft began striking the empennage. The Sea Fury pilot reported difficulty s-turning while taxiing due to thrust turbulence from other military fighter aircraft on the ramp adjacent to the taxiway he was using.
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 amateur-built IV LANCAIR from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 429 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 1998; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-550-B1B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD at 4:30 pm
- Destination: SMF Santa Maria CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from RNO, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Hawker Siddeley SEA FURY TMK 20 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 17,810 hours in all; 107 in this make and model; 14,599 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,371 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 30, 1998; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 11,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Curtis Wright R-3350-26WD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4SD at 4:30 pm
- Destination: FMN Farmington NM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 7,600 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.