# NTSB ATL87FA161: Cessna 208B, N917FE, Atlanta, GA, June 5, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 5, 1987, 06:44 local (10:44 UTC)
- Place: Atlanta, GA
- Location: 33.7490° N, 84.3880° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Atlanta, GA, within about 7 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7490&lon=-84.3880&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7299
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87FA161
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7299/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87FA161

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
  - instructions,written/verbal - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED ON A RAMP WHILE EACH WAS TAXIING TO RWY 8L FOR T/O. BOTH ACFT WERE AUTHORIZED BY ATC TO TAXI TO THE RWY; THE CESSNA WAS INSTRUCTED BY ATC TO FOLLOW THE BEECH. THE TWO ACFT WERE HDG IN THE SAME GENERAL DIRECTION ON CONVERGING PATHS WHEN THEY COLLIDED; THE RIGHT-REAR SIDE OF THE CESSNA FUSELAGE STRUCK THE BEECH LEFT-WING TIP. EXAMINATION OF THE IMPACT DAMAGE INDICATED THAT THE CESSNA WAS OVERTAKING THE BEECH WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE BEECH PLT REPORTED SEEING THE CESSNA OVERTAKING HIM AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED MOMENTS BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE CESSNA PLT REPORTED THAT HE NEVER SAW THE BEECH PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE CESSNA WAS CONFIGURED FOR CARGO-CARRYING AND HAD NO WINDOWS INSTALLED AFT OF THE COCKPIT.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED ON A RAMP WHILE EACH WAS TAXIING TO RWY 8L FOR T/O. BOTH ACFT WERE AUTHORIZED BY ATC TO TAXI TO THE RWY; THE CESSNA WAS INSTRUCTED BY ATC TO FOLLOW THE BEECH. THE TWO ACFT WERE HDG IN THE SAME GENERAL DIRECTION ON CONVERGING PATHS WHEN THEY COLLIDED; THE RIGHT-REAR SIDE OF THE CESSNA FUSELAGE STRUCK THE BEECH LEFT-WING TIP. EXAMINATION OF THE IMPACT DAMAGE INDICATED THAT THE CESSNA WAS OVERTAKING THE BEECH WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE BEECH PLT REPORTED SEEING THE CESSNA OVERTAKING HIM AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED MOMENTS BEFORE THE COLLISION. THE CESSNA PLT REPORTED THAT HE NEVER SAW THE BEECH PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE CESSNA WAS CONFIGURED FOR CARG0-CARRYING AND HAD NO WINDOWS INSTALLED AFT OF THE COCKPIT.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N917FE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N917FE-2013-10-29), registration cancelled 2013-10-29, S/N 208B0017, built 1987 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 208B
- Registry model: [Cessna 208B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208b) (registry code 2073701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 208B00117
- Airframe hours: 130
- Engines: P&W PT6A-114 600 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Mountain Air Cargo
- Registered owner: Federal Express Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, May 20, 1987, 23 hours before
- Destination: ABY, ALBANY, GA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Wms.B Hartsfield Atl Intl

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N1653W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1653W-2018-02-28), registration cancelled 2018-02-28, S/N TH-252, built 1972 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH 58
- Registry model: [Beech 58](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-58) (registry code 1152740) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TH-252
- Airframe hours: 6840
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520 285 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: New Creations,Inc., doing business as Financial Air Express
- Registered owner: Duck Hook Leasing
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 4, 1987
- Destination: MSY, NEW ORLEANS, LA
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: Wms.B Hartsfield Atl Intl

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N917FE; age 46; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 17,000 total, 120 in this make and model, 16,872 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N1653W; age 32; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,430 total, 289 in this make and model, 1,875 as pilot in command, 282 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn
- Wind: 40° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ATL, 1 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).

- [Incident 19870605021592I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870605021592I), Jun 5, 1987: Cessna 208B, Atlanta, GA, Substantial damage. Aircraft collision with Beech 58,N1653W,during taxi from federal express ramp to north taxiway. Both had clearance.
- [Incident 19870605021591I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870605021591I), Jun 5, 1987: Beech 58, Atlanta, GA, Minor damage. Collision with Cessna 208B,N917FE,at number 1 ramp to taxiway. Both had taxi clearance. Sun was behind Cessna.

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.

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