Piper PA-28-151 and amateur-built RV-6A accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 17, 2004
On August 17, 2004 at about 12:31 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-151 (N6816J) and amateur-built RV-6A (N181A), were involved in the same accident near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Northeast Philadelphia Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
Preview. This page is not yet listed for search engines.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of RV-6A and his failure to maintain clearance while taxiing, which resulted in an on-ground collision with the Piper.
The inadequate visual lookout by the pilot of RV-6A and his failure to maintain clearance while taxiing, which resulted in an on-ground collision with the Piper.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2004 · about 12:31 pm local time
- Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania · Northeast Philadelphia Airport · 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
- Piper PA-28-151 · all PA-28-151s on the register
- Registration
- N6816J · no longer on the register · serial 28-7615365
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built RV-6A
- Registration
- N181A · registry record · serial 60280
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-151 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Piper contacted the ground controller and was cleared to taxi from the ramp area, to the active runway. The pilot of RV-6A also contacted the ground controller from the same ramp area, and was instructed to follow the Piper to the active runway. The RV-6A pilot looked out his left window and directly ahead, and did not observe the Piper. As the RV-6A began to taxi, the propeller struck the left wing of the Piper as it passed in front of the RV-6A from the right.
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 RV-6A final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Piper contacted the ground controller and was cleared to taxi from the ramp area, to the active runway. The pilot of RV-6A also contacted the ground controller from the same ramp area, and was instructed to follow the Piper to the active runway. The RV-6A pilot looked out his left window and directly ahead, and did not observe the Piper. As the RV-6A began to taxi, the propeller struck the left wing of the Piper as it passed in front of the RV-6A from the right.
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 Piper PA-28-151 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- 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: 11,050 hours in all; 72 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command; 9,900 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 14, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,521 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 26, 2004; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,325 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PNE Philadelphia PA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 12:54 pm from PNE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built RV-6A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,604 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 106 in the last 90 days; 47 in the last 30 days; 1,557 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 23, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 114 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 2003; 114 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PNE Philadelphia PA
- Flight plan: none
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.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 NYC04LA194.