# NTSB ATL84FA119: Piper PA-31T, N9162Y, Benson, NC, March 7, 1984 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 7, 1984, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Benson, NC - Coordinates: 35.369064, -78.540405 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3691&lon=-78.5404&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 7 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 6265 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL84FA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/6265/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL84FA119 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: N9162Y (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31T-8120104 - Airframe hours: 2562 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N390AC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BEECH 200C - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BL-5 - Airframe hours: 11439 - Engines: 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 As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9162Y; age 65; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N390AC; age 35; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19840307005072A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840307005072A), Mar 7, 1984: Piper PA31T, Benson, NC, Substantial damage. Collided with N390AC at cruise on a 30 degree convergence. Passed under other aircraft. Was able to land safely. - [Accident 19840307005071A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840307005071A), Mar 7, 1984: Beech 200CBEECH, Benson, NC, Substantial damage. Collided with N9162Y at cruise on a 30 degree convergence. Passed over other craft. Was able to land safely. 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.