Accident Details
On July 22, 2010, at approximately 1145 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R (registration N51AR) was taxiing for takeoff at McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport (MCK) in McCook, Nebraska. The airplane was operated by Red Willow Aviation Spraying, Inc. under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight.
Sequence of Events
N51AR was parked on the ramp with its propeller operating while being refueled and reloaded. During this time, a Piper PA-18A 150 (registration N2287W) arrived and parked directly in front of N51AR. The occupants of N2287W exited the airplane and left the area. After completing refueling and reloading, the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped N51AR began taxiing for takeoff. The pilot made no turns and taxied straight ahead, directly into the parked and unoccupied N2287W. The operating propeller of N51AR impacted the second airplane.
Damage and Injuries
Witnesses reported that both airplanes were immediately engulfed in fire. The fuselage, empennage, and both wings of N2287W were substantially damaged from the impact with N51AR. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage from the postimpact fire. The pilot of N51AR sustained serious injuries and evacuated the airplane unassisted. No other persons were injured. The fire was extinguished by firefighters.
Ownership
N51AR was owned by Griff H Mallek DBA. N2287W was involved in the collision but its owner is not specified in the source.