Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary DCA87MA020

INDEPENDENCE, MO, USA

Aircraft #1

N60SE

PIPER PA-31-350

Aircraft #2

USA

BEECH U-21A-BH

Analysis

THE TWO ACFT, A BEECH U-21A AND A PIPER PA-31-350, COLLIDED NEARLY HEAD ON AT 7000 FT MSL OVER INDEPENDENCE, MO. IN DAYLIGHT VMC CONDITIONS WITH A VISIBILITY OF 20 MILES. THE U-21 WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE AND THE PA-31 WAS CLIMBING EASTBOUND TO AN UNDISCLOSED ALT ENROUTE TO SAINT LOUIS. BOTH ACFT WERE EQUIPPED WITH OPERATING MODE-C TRANSPONDERS BUT THE CONTROLLER IN CONTACT WITH THE U-21 DID NOT OBSERVE THE CONFLICT AND TRAFFIC ADVISORIES WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE PA-31 WAS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH VISUAL FLT RULES. THE U-21 WAS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUMENT FLT RULES. AFTER THE COLLISION BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT EITHER ACFT TOOK ANY EVASIVE ACTION. THE CONFLICT ALERT SUBPROGRAM OF THE ARTS III TRACKING SYSTEM WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO ALERT THE CONTROLLERS TO THE IMPENDING COLLISION AND THE TWO CONTROLLERS DID NOT OBSERVE ANY TARGET IN THE VICINITY OF THE DATA BLOCK REPRESENTING THE U-21. (SEE NTSB/AAR-88/01).

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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