Incident Overview
On November 29, 2009, at approximately 1345 Pacific Standard Time, a Travel Air 4000 (registration N8700) taxied into a Lancair 235 (registration N880RS) while both aircraft were on the ground at Zamperini Field Airport (TOA) in Torrance, California. The pilots were operating under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot of the Travel Air reported no intention of flight and was repositioning from his hangar to the fueling area. The airline transport pilot of the Lancair was preparing to taxi to the active runway for a personal local-area flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and neither pilot had filed a flight plan.
Sequence of Events
According to the Travel Air pilot's written statement, he had removed his airplane from the hangar and started the engine, noting that no other aircraft appeared to be in the area. He proceeded to taxi down the asphalt area between hangar rows, which was 58 feet wide, following his normal procedure. Because the Travel Air is a tail-wheel type aircraft, he was making continuous S-turns to maintain forward visibility. As he reached the end of the building, he observed white particles emanating from the propeller. He shut down the engine and exited the aircraft, discovering that his propeller had contacted the rudder of the Lancair.
The pilot of the Lancair stated that he was positioned outside his hangar and stationary when the Travel Air collided with the empennage, damaging the rudder, vertical fin, elevators, and horizontal stabilizer. The Lancair sustained substantial damage, while the Travel Air was not damaged. Neither pilot was injured.
Aircraft Information
Both aircraft were single-engine, fixed-wing airplanes. The Travel Air 4000 (N8700) is a vintage tail-dragger; the Lancair 235 (N880RS) is a homebuilt composite aircraft. No information on engine types or other details was provided in the source.
Conclusion
The incident involved a taxi collision between two general aviation aircraft at a non-controlled airport environment. The source did not provide a probable cause or any analysis; the facts are limited to the statements of the involved pilots.