NTSB Factual Report

On October 13, 2007, about 1034 central daylight time, a single-engine Formhals RV-8 tail-wheel equipped experimental airplane, N628RV, was substantially damaged during a collision with an automobile during takeoff from the Boerne Stage Field Airport (5C1), near San Antonio, Texas. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, and the driver of the automobile were seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the collision occurred approximately 555-feet from the airplane's initial takeoff roll. The inspector further reported that the accident occurred near an access road that crossed the runway to a house. The airplane and vehicle came to rest in an upright position. A post crash fire did not ensue. The pilot and automobile driver were air lifted to a local hospital.

The pilot later reported that as the tail-wheel lifted off the runway during the takeoff roll, he observed an automobile moving onto the runway. The airplane had not obtained flying speed and there was not sufficient runway space between the two vehicles to stop. The pilot further reported that he had pulled back on the flight control stick in an attempt to go over the automobile, but was not successful.

Photographs provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the airplane's wings and fuselage sustained structural damage.

NTSB Probable Cause

The automobile driver's failure to yield right-a-way to the airplane before crossing an active runway.