# NTSB ATL88FA185: Piper PA-28R-200, N44018, Raleigh, NC, May 26, 1988 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 25, 1988, 21:13 local (May 26, 1988, 01:13 UTC) - Place: Raleigh, NC - Coordinates: 35.829956, -78.830673 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8300&lon=-78.8307&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 19, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 7606 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL88FA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7606/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL88FA185 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, climb - to cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - formation flying - improper, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, climb - to cruise - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - light condition - dark night (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - formation flying - improper, pilot in command (contributing factor) - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, climb - to cruise - Forced landing, landing - Nose gear collapsed, other - landing gear,nose gear - overload ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A PIPER PA-28R (LEAD ACFT, N44018) & A CESSNA 172 (#2 ACFT, N737GU) WERE DEPARTING RALEIGH-DURHAM ARPT ON A FORMATION FLT TO PETERSBURG, VA. THE CESSNA PLT (WINGMAN) RPRTD THAT DRG TAKEOFF & INITIAL CLIMB, THE LEAD ACFT BGN TO ACCELERATE AHEAD OF HIM. THE PIPER TURNED SLIGHTLY RGT & LEVELED AT APRX 1500' AS THE WINGMAN TRIED TO REGAIN POSITION & KEEP THE LEAD ACFT IN SIGHT. THE WINGMAN RPRTD HE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING THE LEAD ACFT WITH CITY LIGHTS IN THE BACKGROUND. THE WINGMAN'S ACFT BEGAN 'BUILDING UP MOMENTUM' & HE TRIMMED TO LEVEL OFF AT 1500'. AFTER THE FLT WAS CLEARED TO CONTACT DEPARTURE CONTROL, THE WINGMAN LOOKED AWAY TO LOCATE & CHANGE THE RADIO FREQ. AS HE WAS CHANGING FREQS, HE LOST SIGHT OF THE LEAD ACFT. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE CESSNA CONVERGED WITH THE PIPER, BUT THE WINGMAN DID NOT SEE IT UNTIL JUST BEFORE HIS PROP & NOSE GEAR HIT THE VERTICAL FIN & FUSELAGE OF THE PIPER. THE PIPER ENTERED AN UNCTLD DSCNT & CRASHED. THE CESSNA ENG LOST POWER, BUT THE WINGMAN MADE A SUCCESSFUL FORCED LNDG ON RWY 32 WITH A FAILED NOSE GEAR. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N44018](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44018-1988-12-02), registration cancelled 1988-12-02, S/N 28R7435291 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28R-200 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28R-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28r-200) (registry code 7102811) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 288435219 - Airframe hours: 5473 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Petersburg-Dinwiddie - Registered owner: Petersburg Dinwiddie Anv Inc., - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: RDU - Destination: PETERSBURG, VA - Airport: RDU, Raleigh-Durham ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N737GU](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N737GU), registered now, S/N 17269414, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 69414 - Airframe hours: 3823 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Petersburg-Dinwiddie - Registered owner: Petersburg Dinwiddie Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 20, 1988, 13 hours before - Departed: RDU - Destination: PETERSBURG, VA - Airport: RDU, Raleigh-Durham, runway 32, 4,498 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N44018; age 28; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,402 total - Pilot, aircraft N737GU; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,662 total, 159 in this make and model, 2,743 as pilot in command, 155 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RDU ## 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 19880525016072A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880525016072A), May 25, 1988: Piper PA28R200, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Destroyed, 2 fatal. On a night formation,flight was struck from behind by NR2 aircraft and crashed out of control. NR2 landed safely. - [Accident 19880525016071A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880525016071A), May 25, 1988: Cessna 172N, Raleigh-Durham, NC, Substantial damage. On a night formation flight, lost site of lead aircraft and struck its tail causing it to crash. Landed 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.