ATL84FA119

NTSB accident investigation · Piper PA-31T · Benson, NC · March 7, 1984

Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal report
Date
March 7, 1984, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC)
Place
Benson, NC
Injuries
7 uninjured
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N9162YPiper PA-31TN390ACBeech 200C
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
6265

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Midair collisionCruise - normal
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Midair collisionCruise - normal
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause

Analysis

A Piper PA-31T, N9162Y, and a Beech 200C, N390AC, were involved in a midair collision while both were cruising at 17,500 ft in unlimited visibility. The Piper was tracking inbound on the 210 deg radial of the richmond VOR. The Beech was tracking inbound on the 340 deg radial of the wilmington VOR. Both acft were substantially damaged, but both aircrew were able to continue flying and land safely. The plt of the Piper said that he saw a tan flash just before the collision. The pilot of the Beech did not see the Piper. The cockpit view of the PA-31 pilot was somewhat restricted by the left, windshield side post. Likewise, the Beech plt's view was somewhat restricted by the windshield center post and the windshield wiper arm. The acft converged on one another with a closure speed of about 420 KTS and in the same general directions that the plt's views were obstructed.

A Piper PA-31T, N9162Y, & a Beech 200C, N390AC, were involved in a midair collision while both were cruising at 17,500 ft in unlimited visibility. The Piper was tracking inbound on the 210 deg radial of the richmond VOR. The Beech was tracking inbound on the 340 deg radial of the wilmington VOR. Both acft were substantally damaged, but both aircrew were able to continue flying & land safely. The plt of the Piper said that he saw a tan flash just before the collision. The pilot of the Beech did not see the Piper. The cockpit view of the PA-31 pilot was somewhat restricted by the left, windshield side post. Likewise, the Beech plt's view was somewhat restricted by the windshield center post & the windshield wiper arm. The acft converged on oneanother with a colosure speed of about 420 KTS & in the same general directions that the plts' view were obstructed.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N9162Y
Reported as
Piper PA-31T
Category
Airplane
Serial number
31T-8120104
Airframe hours
2,562
Engine
P&W PT6A-28, 620 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Business · Part 91
Registered owner
Virginia Log Co., Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
PMP · Pompano Beach, FL
Destination
RIC · Richmond, VA
Registration
N390AC
Reported as
Beech 200C
Category
Airplane
Serial number
BL-5
Airframe hours
11,439
Engine
P&W PT6A-41, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Other work use · Part 91
Registered owner
Aero Contractors, Limited
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · February 10, 1984 · 439 hours before
Departed
W27 · Smithfield, NC

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N9162Y
Age
65
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
10,000 total · 1,081 in this make and model · 10,000 as pilot in command · 70 in the last 90 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N390AC
Age
35
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
Instrument ratings
Airplane, Helicopter
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
7,392 total · 500 in this make and model · 7,000 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
25 statute miles
Temperature
45 °F, dew point 28 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
FAY

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.