Waco RNF and Cirrus SR20 accident near Phoenix, Arizona, December 14, 2025
On December 14, 2025 at about 4:04 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Waco RNF (N110Y) and Cirrus SR20 (N506AV), were involved in the same accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Deer Valley 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 biplane pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the low-wing airplane while taxiing.
The biplane pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from the low-wing airplane while taxiing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 14, 2025 · about 4:04 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix Deer Valley Airport · 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
- Waco RNF, built 1930 · all RNFs on the register
- Registration
- N110Y · registry record · serial 3298
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cirrus SR20 NO SERIES, built 2023 · all SR20s on the register
- Registration
- N506AV · registry record · serial 9469
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Waco RNF final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped biplane reported that while taxiing behind a low-wing airplane, he was performing s-turns to improve forward visibility. During the s-turns, the pilot momentarily lost sight of the low-wing airplane, and when he regained sight of it, he realized it had stopped. The pilot applied full right rudder and braking to avoid a collision; however, the biplane’s upper left wing struck the low-wing airplane’s rudder. During the collision sequence, the biplane’s propeller struck the low-wing airplane’s horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the upper left wing, and the low-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilots of both airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 Cirrus SR20 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped biplane reported that while taxiing behind a low-wing airplane, he was performing s-turns to improve forward visibility. During the s-turns, the pilot momentarily lost sight of the low-wing airplane, and when he regained sight of it, he realized it had stopped. The pilot applied full right rudder and braking to avoid a collision; however, the biplane’s upper left wing struck the low-wing airplane’s rudder. During the collision sequence, the biplane’s propeller struck the low-wing airplane’s horizontal stabilizer and elevator. The biplane sustained substantial damage to the upper left wing, and the low-wing airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The pilots of both airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with their airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 Waco RNF from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
- Loss of visual reference during taxi
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,761 hours in all; 727 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 20, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,770 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 12, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,938 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Warner S50A (piston); 1,800 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 9:00 am from KDVT, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDVT 141553Z 05006KT 10SM CLR 15/03 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP185 T01500033
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
The factual record for the Cirrus SR20 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,395 hours in all; 1,320 in this make and model; 286 in the last 90 days; 96 in the last 30 days; 1,091 as pilot in command; 899 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 31, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,849 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 7, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 3,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-390-C3B6 (piston); 1,849 hours total
- Operator: Westwind School Of Aeronautics Phoenix LLC DBA
The flight
- Departed from: GYR Goodyear AZ at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 WPR26LA059.