Amateur-built Rebich-Pitts and Piper PA-28-161 accident near Naples, Florida, December 13, 2006
On December 13, 2006 at about 2:18 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built Rebich-Pitts (N427RD) and Piper PA-28-161 (N970AC), were involved in the same accident near Naples, Florida (Naples Municipal 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
The experimental airplane's pilot inadequate visual lookout while taxiing for takeoff, which resulted in an on-ground collision with a Piper airplane which was standing with its engine operating in the runup area.
The experimental airplane's pilot inadequate visual lookout while taxiing for takeoff, which resulted in an on-ground collision with a Piper airplane which was standing with its engine operating in the runup area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2006 · about 2:18 pm local time
- Place
- Naples, Florida · Naples Municipal
- 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 Rebich-Pitts
- Registration
- N427RD · registry record · serial JL102
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N970AC · registry record · serial 28-8116113
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built Rebich-Pitts final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N427RD, an experimental amateur-built airplane, stated that while taxiing for takeoff he made clearing turns, and mentally noted the airplanes in the run-up area. He said he observed one airplane taxiing into position for takeoff, and believing that he had accounted for all the airplanes, he continued to taxi. He said that his airplane's propeller struck the right wing of another airplane, N970AC, a Piper PA-28-161. Damage to the experimental airplane was minor, and the Piper incurred substantial damage to its right wing spar.
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 Piper PA-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N427RD, an experimental amateur-built airplane, stated that while taxiing for takeoff he made clearing turns, and mentally noted the airplanes in the run-up area. He said he observed one airplane taxiing into position for takeoff, and believing that he had accounted for all the airplanes, he continued to taxi. He said that his airplane's propeller struck the right wing of another airplane, N970AC, a Piper PA-28-161. Damage to the experimental airplane was minor, and the Piper incurred substantial damage to its right wing spar.
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 Rebich-Pitts from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 29,000 hours in all; 900 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 29,000 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,229 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2006; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APF Naples FL
- Destination: APF
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from APF
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 300 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 80 in the last 30 days; 800 as pilot in command; 750 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 106 hours in all; 7 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-02A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: APF Naples FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 5,290 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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 MIA07LA026.