# NTSB ATL83MA084: Beech D55, N7142N, Cherry Point, NC, January 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report
- Date: January 9, 1983, 16:44 local (21:44 UTC)
- Place: Cherry Point, NC
- Coordinates: 34.899204, -76.900978 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8992&lon=-76.9010&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 1
- NTSB case key (mKey): 6222
- NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/ATL83MA084.aspx
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6222/pdf
- Board report AAR8407 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8407.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL83MA084

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Midair collision, cruise - normal
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, other government personnel
  - distance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot of other aircraft
- Midair collision, maneuvering
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft
  - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft
  - crew/group coordination - inadequate, other government personnel
  - distance - not maintained, pilot in command
  - airspeed - excessive, pilot in command

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED AT ABOUT 9,500 FT MSL 30 MI SOUTH OF CHERRY POINT. AFTER DEPARTING NASSAU, THE PLT OF THE BE-D55 NEVER ACTIVATED HIS FLT PLAN. AN ADIZ PENETRATION TIME WAS THEREFORE NEVER ESTABLISHED. WHEN THE UNIDENTIFIED ACFT ENTERED WARNING AREA W-122, THE USAF CONTACTED FAA ATC FOR IDENTIFICATION INFO. SINCE FAA WAS NOT CONTROLLING ANY TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA AN INTERCEPT ORDER WAS ISSUED. AT 1637 FAA GOT A POSITION REPORT FROM THE BE-D55 & RELAYED IT TO MILITARY CONTROL. HOWEVER, THE TWO FIGHTER ACFT CONTINUED TO CLOSE IN ON THE TARGET FOR RADAR CONTACT. THE LEAD ACFT WAS TO CLOSE ABOUT 1,000 FT BELOW THE TARGET AT A PREPLANNED CLOSURE RATE OF 50 KTS (ACTUAL RATE WAS 127 KTS). SECONDS BEFORE THE COLLISION, THE BE-D55 TURNED LEFT AS REQUESTED BY FAA ATC THUS TURNING IT INTO THE PATH OF THE OVERTAKING INTERCEPTOR WHICH ALSO HAD TURNED LEFT TO BREAK OFF THE INTERCEPT. THE SAFETY BOARD DID NOT DETERMINE THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT, BUT OFFERED STATEMENTS OF CAUSE.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N7142N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7142N-2013-02-20), registration cancelled 2013-02-20, S/N TE-497, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH D55
- Registry model: [Beech D55](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-d55) (registry code 1152730) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TE-497
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Henry H. Tiffany
- Registered owner: Orr Chevrolet, Inc.
- Departed: NASSAU, BAHAMAS
- Destination: ORF, NORFOLK, VA

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: AFNG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: McDonnell Douglas F4C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 637536
- Airframe hours: 42392
- Engines: GE J79-15A 17500 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Public aircraft, Armed forces
- Last inspection: AAIP, September 22, 1982, 349 hours before
- Departed: KGSB, GOLDSBORO, NC
- Flight plan: Military VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N7142N; age 47; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,455 total
- Pilot, aircraft 2; age 36; military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,400 total, 500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 8 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft broken
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Observed at: KNKT, 29 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830109002262A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830109002262A), Jan 9, 1983: Beech D55, Cherry Point, NC, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Mid air collision occurred during intercept by military fighter. Beech aircraft had entered adiz without clearance.

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.