AUSTIN, TX, USA
N87280
CESSNA 402B
N5224W
PIPER PA-28
BOTH ACFT WERE APPROACHING FROM THE SSW & FLYING ASSIGNED HEADINGS. NEITHER ACFT HAD BEEN ASSIGNED AN ALTITUDE. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT, APPROACH CONTROL (A/C) TOLD THE C-402B TO FLY 360 TO FOLLOW TRAFFIC & ASKED WHAT HIS ALTITUDE WAS. WHENTHE PLT RESPONDED HE WAS AT 2300 FT, A/C TOLD HIM "YOU'VE GOT A CHEROKEE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU." THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 5 SECS LATER. THE PA-28 MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A RETENTION POND. THE C-402B LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. OF THE 8 ATC PERSONNEL ON DUTY IN THE TRACON, ONLY 3 WERE ASSIGNED CONTROL POSITIONS. THE REMAINDER WERE EITHER ON BREAKOR OUT FOR DINNER. THE ACCIDENT CONTROLLER HAD 9 ACFT UNDER HIS CONTROL AT THE TIME. BOTH ACFT WERE WITHIN HIS CONTROL &HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TRANSPONDER CODES, RADAR IDENTIFIED & ASSIGNED HEADINGS FOR SEQUENCING. THE ONLY TRAFFIC ADVISORY HE ISSUED EITHER ACFT ABOUT THE OTHER WAS WHEN THE COLLISION WAS IMMINENT & HE TOLD THE C-402B THAT THE CHEROKEE WAS RIGHT THERE WITH HIM.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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