Amateur-built SA-300 and Cessna 152 accident near West Jordan, Utah, September 24, 2011
On September 24, 2011 at about 10:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built SA-300 (N23UT) and Cessna 152 (N6357Q), were involved in the same accident near West Jordan, Utah (South Valley Regional Airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's inadequate visual lookout during taxi, which resulted in a collision with the standing airplane.
The pilot of the other airplane's inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with the standing airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 24, 2011 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- West Jordan, Utah · South Valley Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built SA-300
- Registration
- N23UT · no longer on the register · serial 182
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6357Q · registry record · serial 15285235
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built SA-300 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Starduster pilot was taxiing for departure. Due to the tailwheel configuration of the airplane he had limited visibility when taxiing, and the airplane was not equipped with a radio. When the pilot began the taxi, he noted two airplanes in the run-up area, and he later saw them depart. Unknown to him, there was a third airplane parked in the run-up area. As the Starduster approached the run-up area, the passenger began waving his hands; however, the Starduster impacted the right wing of the parked Cessna.
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 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Starduster pilot was taxiing for departure. Due to the tailwheel configuration of the airplane, he had limited visibility when taxiing, and the airplane was not equipped with a radio. When the pilot began the taxi, he noted two airplanes in the run-up area, and he later saw them depart. Unknown to him, there was a third airplane parked in the run-up area. As the Starduster approached the run-up area, the passenger began waving his hands; however, the Starduster impacted the right wing of the parked Cessna.
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 SA-300 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 270 in this make and model
- Last flight review: September 13, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,600 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2011; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,940 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming HIO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Starduster LLC
The flight
- Departed from: U42 Salt Lake City UT
- Destination: Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from SLC, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 18,000 hours in all; 11,000 as pilot in command; 300 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Private Pilot Flyers LLC
The flight
- Departed from: U42 Salt Lake City UT at 10:30 pm
- Destination: U42 Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.