# NTSB ATL87LA254: Aerostar 600, N8073J, Columbus, OH, September 11, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 10, 1987, 21:20 local (Sep 11, 1987, 01:20 UTC)
- Place: Columbus, OH
- Coordinates: 40.010467, -82.919075 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0105&lon=-82.9191&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 14, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7515
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL87LA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7515/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL87LA254

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating
  - object - aircraft moving on ground
  - brakes(normal) - delayed, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - light condition - night (contributing factor)
- On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff
  - object - aircraft parked/standing
  - brakes(normal) - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - rain (contributing factor)
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE SCHEDULED DOMESTIC ALL CARGO FLT WAS TAXIING FROM THE RAMP TO THE RWY BEHIND ANOTHER COMPANY ACFT WHEN THE PLT SUDDENLY REALIZED THAT THE LEAD ACFT WAS NOT MOVING. THE PLTS ATTEMPTS TO STOP THE ACFT WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL. THE STOPPED ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. AFTER THE COLLISION THE LEAD ACFT CALLED FOR TAXI BACK TO THE RAMP. THIS ACFT TURNED AROUND AND TAXIIED BACK TO THE RAMP WITHOUT CONTACTING GROUND CONTROL. NEITHER ACFT WAS SHUT DOWN AND EXAMINED BY EITHER THE PLT OR GROUND PERSONNEL PRIOR TO RETURNING TO THE RAMP.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

THE SCHEDULED ALL CARGO FLT WAS HOLDING ON A TAXIWAY SHORT OF THE RWY AWAITING ITS IFR CLEARANCE OUT OF THE HUB ARPT. SUDDENLY THE ACFT DIPPED DOWN AT THE NOSE AND THEN THE YOKE JUMPED REARWARD AND HIT THE PLT IN THE CHEST. THE PLT CALLED GROUND CONTROL AND REQUESTED TAXI BACK TO THE RAMP. THE PLT DID NOT INFORM GROUND CONTROL THAT A COLLISION BETWEEN THE TWO COMPANY AIRCRAFT HAD OCCURRED. EACH AIRCRAFT WAS TAXIED BACK TO THE RAMP UNDER ITS OWN POWER WITHOUT BENEFIT OF ANY EXTERNAL EXAMINATION BY ANYONE.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N8073J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8073J-2019-06-21), registration cancelled 2019-06-21, S/N 60-0556-180, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AEROSTAR 600
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-600) (registry code 7106001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 600556180
- Airframe hours: 6889
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: New Creations,Inc., doing business as Pdq Air Ser. & Finan.Air Exp.
- Registered owner: Financial Air Express Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 14, 1987
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CMH, Columbus

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N3643D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3643D), registered now, S/N 6008358161238, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60-600
- Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-600) (registry code 7106001) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (registry code 41530, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 600835816123
- Airframe hours: 4262
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1J5 290 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: New Creations,Inc.
- Registered owner: Fortunes Unlimited
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 3, 1986, 739 hours before
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: CMH, Columbus

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N8073J; age 23; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: left; flight hours: 3,700 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 265 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N3643D; age 30; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,390 total, 456 in this make and model, 5,230 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: CMH

## 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 19870910057622A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870910057622A), Sep 10, 1987: Piper PA60600, Columbus, OH, Substantial damage. Empannage struck by a taxiing N3643D while stopped on taxiway waiting for departure. Tail light possibly not lit.
- [Accident 19870910057621A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870910057621A), Sep 10, 1987: Piper PA60600, Columbus, OH, Minor damage. Ran into the empannege of N8073J that had stopped on the taxiway. Rain on windshield and using a checklist factors.

## Other investigations on N8073J (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC84LA082](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC84LA082), Feb 7, 1984: Piper PA-600 (N8073J), Newark, NJ, substantial damage

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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