CONROE, TX, USA
N8872V
BELLANCA 17-30A
N7797V
PIPER PA-32-300
A BELLANCA 17-30A WAS APPROACHING TO LAND ON RUNWAY (RWY) 19 AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, AS A PIPER PA-32-300 WAS TAKING OFF ON RWY 14. THE RWY CENTERLINES INTERSECTED ABOUT 1100 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 14 (ABOUT 510 FEET FROM A DISPLACED THRESHOLD ON RWY 14). THE APPROACH END OF RWY 19 WAS AT THE INTERSECTION. SUBSEQUENLTY, THE TWO AIRPLANES CONVERGED AND COLLIDED AT THE INTERSECTION. DURING IMPACT, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR OF THE BELLANCA COLLIDED WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND ENGINE COWLING OF THE PIPER. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE EQUIPPED WITH TWO WAY RADIOS. BOTH PILOTS REPORTED THAT THEY ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQ (122.95 MHZ); ALTHOUGH THE UNICOM OPERATOR, WHO HAD JUST COME ON DUTY, DID NOT RECALL HEARING EITHER PILOT ANNOUNCE INTENTIONS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE VHF RADIO OF THE DEPARTING PIPER WAS FOUND TUNED TO 122.7 MHZ; HOWEVER, THE PILOT OF A THIRD AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT HE HEARD THE PIPER PILOT MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE UNICOM FREQ THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 14. NO CORROBORATING INFORMATION WAS OBTAIN TO VERIFY THAT THE BELLANCA PILOT HAD COMMUNICATED HIS INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQ. ACCORDING TO THE PIPER PILOT, THE BELLANCA PILOT DID NOT MAKE A RADIO CALL AS HE WAS APPROACHING THE AIRPORT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, RWY 14 WAS REPORTED TO BE IN USE. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 120 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS.
On May 21, 1995, at 1355 central daylight time, a Bellanca 17- 30A, N8872V, collided with N7797C, a Piper PA-32-300, near Conroe, Texas. N8872V was destroyed by post impact fire, while N7797C sustained substantial damage. The private pilot of N8872V sustained serious injuries while the commercial pilot flying N7797C was uninjured. Neither airplane was carrying passengers. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flights. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the Bellanca was landing on Runway 19, while the Piper was on takeoff roll from Runway 14 at the Montgomery County Municipal Airport, near Conroe, Texas. The right main landing gear from the landing Bellanca struck the windshield and engine cowling on the departing Piper. The UNICOM was reported to be operational on 122.95 at the time of the accident, and both airplanes were equipped with two-way radio communications. The pilot of the landing airplane stated in the enclosed pilot/operator report that he announced his intentions while entering the pattern, and followed another airplane landing on Runway 19. The departing pilot stated that he stated his intentions on 122.95 prior to taking the active runway. Post examination of the airplane revealed that his radio was tuned to 122.7. The UNICOM operator reported that she did not hear either the landing or the departing aircraft announce their intentions on the radio. The airport operator reported that Runway 14-32 is the primary runway at the Montgomery County Airport and was reported to be in use at the time of the accident. The winds at nearby Houston Intercontinental (IAH) airport were reported from 120 degrees at 8 knots.
THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE BELLANCA PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATE HIS INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
