19961020033102A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Beech B23 · Tampa, FL · October 20, 1996

Date: October 20, 1996 · 10:30 local
Place: Tampa, FL
Airport: Vandenberg Airport
Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Collision: Midair collision, second aircraft
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4021T
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA97LA008
Reported as: Beech B23
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 227 total11 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

N4021TRegistration cancelled Oct 30, 2008 · Beech B23S/N M-1128 · Built 1968 Airframe modelBeech B23 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The Cessna 210, N81SC, was planning on departing the traffic pattern on the downwind leg and reportedly announced his takeoff, crosswind and downwind turns. The Beech 23, N4021T, was inbound from the north and announced his intention of a 'long' 2 mile downwind, which was reportedly heard by an employee at the airport. The Cessna was just completing the turn to downwind at 900 feet when the collision occurred. The pilots of both airplanes were able to land at the airport. A witness observed the collision and reported that it occurred about 1/4 mile north and 1/3 mile west of the departure end of runway 36. A component from the Cessna was found in a field located about 1 nautical mile and 322 degrees from the departure end of the runway. The aim recommends that aircraft depart the traffic pattern either on the upwind leg or turn 45 degrees to the left while in the upwind leg. The recommended downwind entry is at a 45 degree angle abeam the midpoint of the downwind leg.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE CESSNA 210, N81SC, WAS PLANNING ON DEPARTING THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON THE DOWNWIND LEG AND REPORTEDLY ANNOUNCED HIS TAKEOFF, CROSSWIND AND DOWNWIND TURNS. THE BEECH 23, N4021T, WAS INBOUND FROM THE NORTH AND ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION OF A 'LONG' 2 MILE DOWNWIND, WHICH WAS REPORTEDLY HEARD BY AN EMPLOYEE AT THE AIRPORT. THE CESSNA WAS JUST COMPLETING THE TURN TO DOWNWIND AT 900 FEET WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES WERE ABLE TO LAND AT THE AIRPORT. A WITNESS OBSERVED THE COLLISION AND REPORTED THAT IT OCCURRED ABOUT 1/4 MILE NORTH AND 1/3 MILE WEST OF THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 36. A COMPONENT FROM THE CESSNA WAS FOUND IN A FIELD LOCATED ABOUT 1 NAUTICAL MILE AND 322 DEGREES FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIM RECOMMENDS THAT AIRCRAFT DEPART THE TRAFFIC PATTERN EITHER ON THE UPWIND LEG OR TURN 45 DEGREES TO THE LEFT WHILE IN THE UPWIND LEG. THE RECOMMENDED DOWNWIND ENTRY IS AT A 45 DEGREE ANGLE ABEAM THE MIDPOINT OF THE DOWNWIND LEG.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA97LA008Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportTampa, FLThe failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid each other. Contributing to the accident was the improper planning/decision of the pilot of the Cessna 210 to depart the traffic pattern on the downwind leg rather than on the upwind leg as…Oct 20, 1996 · 2 aircraft · Substantial damage

Other aircraft in the event · 1

Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.

N81SCCessna 210KAccident 19961020033101A · Substantial damage