Cessna 150L and amateur-built RV4 accident near Madera, California, January 30, 1999
On January 30, 1999, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150L (N6979G) and amateur-built RV4 (N770RF), were involved in the same accident near Madera, California (Madera Municipal Airport). No one was hurt; 2 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's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and to see the airplane stopped on the taxiway ahead.
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout and to see the stationary airplane on the taxiway ahead.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 30, 1999
- Place
- Madera, California · Madera Municipal Airport
- 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
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N6979G · registry record · serial 15072479
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built RV4
- Registration
- N770RF · no longer on the register · serial 773889
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150L final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Coelho RV4, N770RF, collided with a Cessna 150L, N6979G, while taxiing for takeoff. The Cessna 150L was stopped on the parallel taxiway waiting for departure behind two other airplanes. The Cessna's pilot reported that the run-up area was congested and she did not believe there was enough room to safely pull into the area. While waiting on the taxiway, the propeller of a RV4 struck the tail section of her aircraft. The pilot of N770RF (a conventional gear airplane) stated that he was performing 'S' turns on the parallel taxiway while taxiing out for departure and did not notice the Cessna stopped on the taxiway.
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 amateur-built RV4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Coelho RV4, N770RF, collided with a Cessna 150L, N6979G, while taxiing for takeoff. The Cessna 150L was stopped on the parallel taxiway waiting for departure behind two other airplanes. The Cessna's pilot reported that the run-up area was congested and she did not believe there was enough room to safely pull into the area. While waiting on the taxiway, the propeller of a RV4 struck the tail section of her aircraft. The pilot of N770RF (a conventional gear airplane) stated that he was performing 'S' turns on the parallel taxiway while taxiing out for departure and did not notice the Cessna stopped on the taxiway.
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 Cessna 150L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- COLLISION BETWEEN AIRCRAFT (OTHER THAN MIDAIR) during taxi - to takeoff
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, none, none
- Flight time: 806 hours in all; 404 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 511 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,158 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, August 1, 1998; 42 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: MAE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,544 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: scattered at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 55°C, dew point 46°C
- Altimeter: 30 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 am from FAT
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built RV4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- COLLISION BETWEEN AIRCRAFT (OTHER THAN MIDAIR) during taxi - to takeoff
Pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 1,900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: class 3
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: type not recorded, September 19, 1998; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: MAF
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,544 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 LAX99LA086.