# Accident 19970807021312A: Bnorm BN2A8, Fajardo, Puerto Rico, August 7, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 7, 1997, 12:48 local time
- Place: Fajardo, Puerto Rico
- Airport: Diego Jimenez Torres Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision, second aircraft
- Phase of flight: Final Approach
- Operating rules: Air taxi and commuter (Part 135)
- Operator: FLMA
- Location: 18.3333° N, 65.6576° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fajardo, PR, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=18.3333&lon=-65.6576&mi=10
- Aircraft: N26JA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N26JA-2017-07-07) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Britten-Norman BN-2A-8 (registry code 1520209, https://openairdocs.org/model/britten-norman-bn-2a-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-540 series (registry code 41532, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BNORM BN2A8
- Reported engine: LYC O540E4C5
- People aboard: 5
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 37,000 total, 3,200 in this make and model, 168 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ATL97FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97FA113) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970807021312A

## Narrative

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

COLLIDED MID AIR WITH N1202S OVER RUNWAY. (.4)ON AUGUST 7, 1997, ABOUT 1248 ATLANTIC STANDARD TIME, TWO BRITTEN-NORMAN BN-2 AIRPLANES, COLLIDED IN FLIGHT, OVER THE LANDING THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY 08, AT THE DIEGO JIMENEZ AIRPORT, FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO (PR). BOTH AIRPLANES WERE CONDUCTING A VISUAL APPROACH AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. THE PILOT OF N1202S, WAS EXECUTING A NON-STANDARD RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERN APPROACH TO LANDING, WHILE THE PILOT OF N26JA WAS EXECUTING A STANDARD LEFT TRAFFIC PATTERN APPROACH TO LANDING. THE AIRPLANES COLLIDED OVER THE APPROACH THRESHOLD OF RUNWAY 08, ABOUT 100 FEET AGL.  PASSENGERS ON N26JA, STATED THAT THE OTHER AIRPLANE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT MUCH LOWER THEN THEIR AIRPLANE AND DISAPPEARED UNDER THEM. THE NEXT TIME THEY SAW THE OTHER AIRPLANE THEY WERE COLLIDING INTO ITS TAIL SECTION. EXAMINATION OF BOTH AIRPLANES REVEALED NO MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES.                                                   (-23) SEE NARRATIVE #ATL97FA113A.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N1202S, Bnorm BN2A26: [Accident 19970807021311A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970807021311A)

## 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 ATL97FA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97FA113), Aug 7, 1997: Pilatus BN-2 Islander (N26JA), Fajardo, PR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate visual lookout.

## Other reports on N26JA (2)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19841003073659I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841003073659I), Oct 3, 1984: Bnorm BN2A8 (N26JA), San Juan, Puerto Rico, Minor damage. While repositioning aircraft on ramp, brake failed causing wingtip to strike light pole.
- [Incident 19820421017289I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820421017289I), Apr 21, 1982: Bnorm BN2A (N26JA), St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Minor damage. Wingtip struck parked aircraft while taxiing on congested ramp.

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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