Accident Overview
On September 12, 2012, at approximately 1915 central daylight time, a Varga 2150A (N4651V) and a Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 (N3793F) were involved in a ground collision on runway 21 at Clinton Municipal Airport (CWI) in Clinton, Iowa. The tail of N4651V was severed by the propeller of N3793F. No injuries were reported. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and neither airplane was operating on a flight plan.
Pilot Reports
The pilot of N4651V, a commercial pilot flying a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91, reported that he was returning from a local flight and had practiced a VOR runway 21 instrument approach. He made several radio transmissions on the airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) to report his position and intention to land but heard no transmissions from other aircraft in the traffic pattern. After landing, he heard a faint transmission on the CTAF—"Clinton, short final"—and while preparing to exit on a taxiway, felt a sudden impact and applied the brakes firmly. His airplane continued, striking a runway light and taxiway sign. Upon exiting, he discovered the tail almost completely severed.
The pilot of N3793F, a private pilot on a personal flight under Part 91, reported that he made several CTAF transmissions announcing his position and intention to land but heard no other aircraft. He entered a left-hand traffic pattern for runway 21, announcing positions on downwind, base, and final. After touchdown during rollout, he suddenly saw the vertical tail of another airplane coming up his right side, not having known there was another airplane on the runway. N3793F struck the tail and aft fuselage of N4651V.
Regulatory Context
Clinton Municipal Airport is a non-towered airport. Title 14 CFR 91.113g provides right-of-way rules for aircraft on final approach or landing: aircraft on final approach have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or on the surface, but they shall not force an aircraft off the runway that has already landed and is attempting to make way. When two or more aircraft are approaching to land, the lower-altitude aircraft has the right-of-way but cannot cut in front of another on final approach or overtake it. Regulations did not prohibit straight-in approaches at non-towered airports.