# Accident 19961020033102A: Beech B23, Tampa, FL, October 20, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 20, 1996, 10:30 local time
- Place: Tampa, FL
- Airport: Vandenberg Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, second aircraft
- Phase of flight: In Traffic Pattern-Circling
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.0091° N, 82.5808° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0091&lon=-82.5808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4021T, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4021T-2008-10-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Beech B23 (registry code 1151240, https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-b23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH B23
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 227 total, 11 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA008) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961020033102A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.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.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N81SC, Cessna 210K: [Accident 19961020033101A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961020033101A)

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB MIA97LA008](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA008), Oct 20, 1996: Beech 23 (N4021T), Tampa, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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