# NTSB ATL88FA106: Cessna 150, N60371, Knoxville, TN, March 6, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 6, 1988, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Location: 35.9606° N, 83.9207° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Knoxville, TN, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9606&lon=-83.9207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 7587 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7587/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA106 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - comm/nav equipment,transmitter - inoperative (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE CESSNA MADE A LONG STRAIGHT IN FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT'S RADIO TRANSMITTER WAS INOP. AFTERWARD THE CESSNA PIC RPTED THAT INITIALLY HE SAW THE BEECH ON A LEFT BASE. LATER HE STATED THE BEECH WAS HEADING AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE BEECH FLYING A NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN AND ARRIVING ON FINAL ABOVE & SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE CESSNA. THE BEECH BEGAN A STEEPER, FASTER DESCENT & COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA FROM BEHIND. THE INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED INTENSE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE CESSNA OPERATORS AND THE FLIGHT SCHOOL WHERE THE BEECH WAS BASED. CORPORATE PILOTS COMPLAINED ABOUT TRAFFIC PATTERN DISCOURTESY BY TWO ACFT WHOSE DESCRIPTIONS MATCHED THE ACFT INVOLVED IN THIS COLLISION. A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE BEECH MAKING POSITION REPORTS IN THE PATTERN. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT THE CESSNA RADIO WAS RECEIVING SATISFACTORILLY. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A CESSNA MADE A LONG STRAIGHT IN FINAL APPROACH. THE AIRCRAFT'S RADIO TRANSMITTER WAS INOP. AFTERWARD THE CESSNA PIC RPTED THAT INITIALLY HE SAW THE BEECH ON A LEFT BASE. LATER HE STATED THE BEECH WAS HEADING AWAY FROM THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. WITNESSES DESCRIBED THE BEECH FLYING A NORMAL TRAFFIC PATTERN AND ARRIVING ON FINAL ABOVE & SLIGHTLY BEHIND THE CESSNA. THE BEECH BEGAN A STEEPER, FASTER DESCENT & COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA FROM BEHIND. THE INVESTIGATION UNCOVERED INTENSE ANIMOSITY BETWEEN THE CESSNA OPERATIONS AND THE FLIGHT SCHOOL WHERE THE BEECH WAS BASED. CORPORATE PILOTS COMPLAINED ABOUT TRAFFIC PATTERN DISCOURTESY BY TWO ACFT WHOSE DESCRIPTIONS MATCHED THE ACFT INVOLVED IN THIS COLLISION. A WITNESS REPORTED HEARING THE BEECH MAKING POSITION REPORTS IN THE PATTERN. ANOTHER WITNESS STATED THAT THE CESSNA RADIO WAS RECEIVING SATISFACTORILLY. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N60371](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60371), registered now, S/N 15070262, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150j) (registry code 2071820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15070262 - Airframe hours: 2352 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jack L. Pollard - Registered owner: Jack L Pollard - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, August 17, 1987, 19 hours before - Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island, runway 26, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N3818U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3818U-1991-03-11), registration cancelled 1991-03-11, S/N WA223 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH 77 - Registry model: [Beech 77](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-77) (registry code 1153007) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: WA 223 - Airframe hours: 4318 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Aviatin Instruction, Inc. - Registered owner: Douglas J. & Lisa Gieser - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility - Last inspection: Annual, January 27, 1988, 68 hours before - Airport: DKX, Knoxville Downtown Island, runway 26, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N60371; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; flight hours: 185 total, 158 in this make and model, 141 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N3818U; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,058 total, 912 as pilot in command, 231 in the last 90 days, 84 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 21 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). - [Accident 19880306044902A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880306044902A), Mar 6, 1988: Cessna 150J, Knoxville, TN, Minor damage. On straight in final was overtaken and struck from above by N3818U. Rolled left but recovered for safe landing. - [Accident 19880306044901A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880306044901A), Mar 6, 1988: Beech 77, Knoxville, TN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Indicates on steep final overtook from above and collided with N60371. Also,on final lost tail assembly and crashed 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.