# NTSB ATL87FA038: Cessna 185D, N5878T, Hammonton, NJ, December 7, 1986 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: December 7, 1986, 11:21 local (16:21 UTC) - Place: Hammonton, NJ - Location: 39.6675° N, 74.7577° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at HAMMONTON MUNI (N81), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6675&lon=-74.7577&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 7270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA038 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7270/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA038 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, takeoff - initial climb - visual lookout - poor, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - poor, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - Midair collision, landing - visual lookout - poor, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - poor, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE MID-AIR COLLISION OCCURRED WHILE THE CESSNA 185 WAS ATTEMPTING A STEEP CLIMBOUT DURING TAKEOFF FROM RWY 21 AND THE MOONEY WAS MAKING A LANDING TO THE SAME RUNWAY. ANOTHER AIRCRAFT ATTEMPED TO WARN BOTH AIRCRAFT OVER THE UNICOM FREQ. NEITHER AIRCRAFT RESPONDED TO THE THREE CALLS AND BOTH CONTINUED THEIR OPERATIONS. THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 400 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 31. THE AIRPLANES CAME TO REST ABOUT 1300 FEET DOWN THE RWY IN A GRASSY AREA BTW THE TAXIWAY. BOTH A/C BURNED. THE M-20 LEFT OUTBOARD WING PANEL WAS STRUCK SEVERAL TIMES BY THE C-185 PROPELLER BLADES. THE C-185 VERTICAL FIN WAS DEFLECTED LEFT OF IT'S INSTALLED POSITION. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE MID-AIR COLLISION OCCURRED WHILE THE CESSNA 185 WAS ATTEMPTING A STEEP CLIMBOUT DURING TAKEOFF FROM RWY 21 AND THE MOONEY WAS MAKING A LANDING TO THE SAME RUNWAY. ANOTHER AIRCAFT ATTEMPED TO WARN BOTH AIRCRAFT OVER THE UNICOM FREQ. NEITHER AIRCRAFT RESPONDED TO THE THREE CALLS AND BOTH CONTINUED THEIR OPERATIONS. THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 400 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 31. THE AIRPLANES CAME TO REST ABOUT 1300 FEET DOWN THE RWY IN A GRASSY AREA BTW THE TAXIWAY. BOTH A/C BURNED. THE M-20 LEFT OUTBOARD WING PANEL WAS STRUCK SEVERAL TIMES BY THE C-185 PROPELLER BLADES. THE C-185 VERTICAL FIN WAS DEFLECTED LEFT OF IT'S INSTALLED POSITION. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N5878T (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 185D - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185-0178 - Airframe hours: 1850 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-470 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flight Apparel Industries, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1986 - Airport: N81, Hammonton, runway 21, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N6930U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6930U-1988-11-21), registration cancelled 1988-11-21, S/N 2729 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2729 - Airframe hours: 1542 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-ASA 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward Becker, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 15, 1986 - Airport: N81, Hammonton, runway 21, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N5878T; age 31; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 750 total, 152 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N6930U; age 66; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 148° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MIV ## 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 19861207064721A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861207064721A), Dec 7, 1986: Cessna 185E, Hammonton, NJ, Destroyed. The aircraft took off and struck N6930U which was landing. The pilot failed to clear final approach before takeoff - [Accident 19861207064722A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861207064722A), Dec 7, 1986: Mooney M20C, Hammonton, NJ, Destroyed. While on final, the aircraft was struck by N5878T which was taking off. Pilot failed to clear runway before landing 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.