# NTSB ATL04LA005: Piper PA-28R-180, N70SR, Pell City, AL, October 4, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 4, 2003, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Pell City, AL - Coordinates: 33.564723, -86.25 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5647&lon=-86.2500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Birmingham FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58092 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58092/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA005 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) The pilot's failure to follow VFR Approach procedures and to maintain visual lookout. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) Visual lookout not maintained by the pilot of the other aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, landing - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A Piper PA-28R-180 (Arrow), N70SR, and a Charles, WAR F4V (Corsair), N71723, experimental amateur built collided in-flight prior to touchdown at the St Clair County Airport, in Pell City, Alabama. According to a CFII/MEI he had just left the main ramp area and was taxiing to runway 20. He heard the Arrow announce he was inbound for landing, and later announced that he was entering the downwind for runway 20. The CFII stated that he was following the homebuilt Corsair, to the hold short line of runway 20. After the Corsair took off the CFII completed his runup, and heard the Arrow announce that he was entering a left base for runway 20. The CFII saw the airplane on base, and heard him announce his turn to final. As the airplane was established on final, he noticed the Corsair, low and turning final for runway 20. The Corsair was about 200 feet agl and outside of the treeline. The Corsair's right wing hit the Arrow's left main landing gear at about 100 feet agl, and within the treeline. Both aircraft remained in control and landed. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A Piper PA-28R-180 (Arrow), N70SR, and a Charles, WAR F4V (Corsair), N71723, experimental amateur built collided in-flight prior to touchdown at the St Clair County Airport, in Pell City, Alabama. According to a CFII/MEI he had just left the main ramp area and was taxiing to runway 20. He heard the Arrow announce he was inbound for landing, and later announced that he was entering the downwind for runway 20. The CFII stated that he was following the homebuilt Corsair, to the hold short line of runway 20. After the Corsair took off the CFII completed his runup, and heard the Arrow announce that he was entering a left base for runway 20. The CFII saw the airplane on base, and heard him announce his turn to final. As the airplane was established on final, he noticed the Corsair, low and turning final for runway 20. The Corsair was about 200 feet agl and outside of the treeline. The Corsair's right wing hit the Arrow's left main landing gear at about 100 feet agl, and within the treeline. Both aircraft remained in control and landed ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) Refer to narrative of ATL04LA005A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On October 4, 2003, at 1645 central daylight time a Piper PA-28R-180 (Arrow), N70SR, registered to Shelby Air LLC, and operated by the commercial pilot, and a Charles, WAR F4V (Corsair), N71723, experimental amateur built, registered to and operated by the private pilot, collided in-flight prior to touchdown at the St Clair County Airport, in Pell City, Alabama. Both flights were operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans were filed. Neither pilot was injured and both airplane sustained substantial damage. The Arrow flight originated from Shelby County Airport, in Alabaster, Alabama, on October 4, 2003 at 1345. The Corsair flight originated from St Clair County Airport in Pell City, Alabama, on October 4, 2003, at 1615. According to a witness in a Cessna 152 at the runway 20 hold short line, he heard the pilot of the Arrow call for the base leg of the traffic pattern. The Cessna 152 pilot looked and saw the Arrow turning onto the base leg. As he came toward the runway on final, well past the tree line and descending he saw a small airplane moving fast inside of the pattern Corsair. He said he saw him approaching the Arrow and banking to the left. He heard no radio calls from the Corsair. Within a few seconds the witness said the right wingtip of the Corsair, collide with the Arrow on the left side. At the time of the collision, he estimated that the Corsair was in a left 30 to 40-degree bank. He said both planes yawed, the Corsair, then continued under and passed the Arrow on the right side of the runway. The Corsair landed in the grass and nosed over. The pilot of the Arrow, corrected his final approach course and landed on the runway. According to a CFII/MEI he had just left the main ramp area and was taxiing to runway 20. He heard the Arrow announce he was inbound for landing, and later announced that he was entering the downwind for runway 20. The CFII stated that he was following the homebuilt Corsair, to the hold short line of runway 20. After the Corsair took off the CFII completed his runup, and heard the Arrow announce that he was entering a left base for runway 20. The CFII saw the airplane on base, and heard him announce his turn to final. As the airplane was established on final, he noticed the Corsair, low and turning final for runway 20. The Corsair was about 200 feet agl and outside of the treeline. The corsair's right wing hit the Arrow's left main landing gear at about 100 feet agl, and within the treeline. Both aircraft remained in control and landed . The commercial pilot for the Arrow, stated that he made radio position calls on downwind, base and final approach legs of the traffic pattern. He was established on final approach at an airspeed of 85 miles per hour at an altitude between 100 feet and 200 feet when the collision occurred. He remained under control of the airplane and landed on runway 20. The airplane came to rest with the left wheel in the grass on the left side of the runway. Damage consisted of the left main tire, left stabilator, and the left side of the fuselage. The private pilot for the Corsair, was in a closed nonstandard left traffic pattern. While turning final approach, using a 30 to 40 degree bank, from a close in left base between 100 and 200 feet above ground level the right wing impacted the left side of the Arrow from below and behind. The pilot continued under the Arrow, and landed in the grass on the right side of the runway. Toward the end of the landing roll the airplane hit a pothole and nosed over onto the propeller and engine cowl. The Corsair was not equipped with radios. Damaged consisted of the propeller, engine cowl and the right wing. Title 14 CFR Part 91.113, Right-of-way rules: paragaph (g) Landing Aircraft, states in part that while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N70SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70SR), registered now, S/N 28R-30122, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-28R-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-180) (registry code 7102809) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28R-30122 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-SER 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Mark Gregory Etheredge - Registered owner: Shelby Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: EET, Shelby County, AL - Destination: PLR, Pell City, AL - Airport: PLR, St Colair County Airport, runway 20, 5,002 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N71723](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N71723-2019-02-27), registration cancelled 2019-02-27, S/N 239, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Charles War F4V - Registry model: [Jahn Charles V JR W A R F4V](https://openairdocs.org/model/jahn-charles-v-jr-w-a-r-f4v) (registry code 056162R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 239 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kevin L. James - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PLR, Pell City, AL - Airport: PLR, St Colair County Airport, runway 20, 5,002 × 80 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N70SR; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 530 total, 19 in this make and model, 438 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N71723; age 31; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: single; flight hours: 500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: ANB, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20031004034871A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031004034871A), Oct 4, 2003: Piper PA28R180, Pell City, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Etheredge was flying N70SR in a normal landing traffic pattern. He made radio position calls on downwind, base and final approach legs of the traffic… - [Accident 20031004027862A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031004027862A), Oct 4, 2003: Amtr WARF4V, Pell City, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Mr. Elderedge was flying N70SR in a normal landing traffic pattern. He made radio position calls on downwind, base and final approach legs of the traffic… ## Other investigations on N70SR (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 ATL07LA004](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA004), Oct 7, 2006: Piper PA-28R-180 (N70SR), Alabaster, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The jammed landing gear hydraulic motor shuttle valve. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.