Accident Overview
On January 1, 2008, at approximately 1430 Pacific standard time, a Piper PA-28-180 low-wing airplane (N8037W) and a Barnard/Stancil Glastar high-wing airplane (N15EX) collided in flight at Sonoma County Airport (OQ3) in Schellville/Sonoma, California. Both pilots were operating under 14 CFR Part 91. The Piper, piloted by a private pilot and sole occupant, sustained minor damage. The Glastar, piloted by a commercial pilot with one passenger, sustained substantial damage. No injuries were reported. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plans were filed. Both aircraft were participating in a fly-in at the airport.
Pilot Statements
The Piper pilot reported entering the right downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 07 and announcing his position. He subsequently announced his right base turn for runway 07. While turning onto final approach, he announced his position and intention to land. He then noticed an airplane approximately 100 feet from the runway, facing east. As he continued his descent, he heard an engine sound and felt contact with his airplane within 1 to 2 seconds. Looking out the right window, he saw the other airplane turning away and climbing, and observed impact damage to the top portion of its rudder.
The Glastar pilot stated that he was holding at the end of runway 07 while waiting for an airplane to land on runway 25. After the runway cleared, he announced his departure intentions and began his takeoff roll. As the airplane became airborne, he heard a transmission that someone was above him. Looking up, he saw the right main landing gear of an airplane about six feet above him. He attempted a side slip to the right, but the aircraft collided. The Glastar pilot continued flying but lost rudder authority. He diverted to Napa County Airport, which had a larger runway, and landed without further incident.
Witness Account
A witness, who was the pilot of the second airplane in a flight of two attending the fly-in, observed the sequence. The lead airplane was entering the right downwind for runway 07, while the witness was directly over the airport at midfield. He saw the Piper on downwind, base, and final approach. As the Piper was on short final, the witness heard another pilot say, "...rolling 07." He then saw the Glastar rolling down the runway and the Piper nearly overhead. The witness transmitted to the Glastar pilot that an airplane was landing on the runway. Shortly after, the aircraft collided. The Glastar veered right while climbing, and the Piper landed uneventfully. The Glastar later landed uneventfully at a nearby airport after an unsuccessful attempt to land at Schellville due to lack of rudder authority.
The witness noted that the runup area for runway 07 is at the beginning of the runway, allowing pilots to depart directly from the runup area. He also indicated that it is widely known that aircraft at the Antique Fly-In may lack radios or electrical systems, so pilots must remain vigilant for other traffic, especially during fly-in activities.
Regulatory Context
According to 14 CFR 91.113, Right-of-way rules: Except water operations, "Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface, except that they shall not take advantage of this rule to force an aircraft off the runway surface which has already landed and is attempting to make way for an aircraft on final approach."