- Date
- May 15, 1989, 18:41 local (22:41 UTC)
- Place
- Washington, DC
- Injuries
- 177 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N920NSNorthrop T-38AN806PAAirbus Industrie A-310
- Weather
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 3, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 11475
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the incident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the T-38 pilot (in the other aircraft) to follow the ATC clearance and to maintain the proper altitude. Factors related to the incident were: failure of air traffic control (ATC) personnel to recognize the T-38'S improper altitude in a timely manner, and ATC personnel's delay in initiating corrective action.
Failure of the pilot-in-command (T-38 pilot) to follow the ATC clearance and to maintain the proper altitude. Factors related to the incident were: failure of air traffic control (ATC) personnel to recognize the T-38'S improper altitude in a timely manner, and ATC personnel's delay in initiating corrctive action.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
NASA T-38, N920NS, was inbnd (hdg east) on a finks one arrival to andrews afb with clnc to dscnd to 8000'. In the same area, pan an flt 140 (Airbus A310/N806PA) was hdg north at 7000' after depg dulles (iad) iap. The Airbus was handled by iad apch ctl. The T-38 was handled by Washington (dca) apch ctl. The T-38 plt dscndd thru 8000' & rprtd at 7000'. At 1st, the dca ctlr didn't realize the T-38 was at the wrong alt. Shortly thereafter, the conflict alert alarmed & the dca ctlr issued a tfc adzy. The T-38 plt immediately climbed to 8000'. But before he climbed, radar data indcd the Airbus & T-38 passed each otr with 711' lateral clnc & 100' vertical clnc. The Airbus plt stated he saw the T-38 pass ahead fm left to rgt. The iad controller did notice tfc for the Airbus, but he did not issue a tfc adzry. Also, he said his conflict alert sys did not alarm; recorded computer data indcd the alarm had operated.
NASA T-38, N920NS, was inbnd (hdg east) on a finks one arrival to andrews afb with clnc to dscnd to 8000'. In the same area, pan am flt 140 (Airbus A310/N806PA) was hdg north at 7000' after depg dulles (iad) iap. The Airbus was handled by iad apch ctl. The T-38 was handled by Washington (dca) apch ctl. The T-38 plt dscndd thru 8000' & rprtd at 7000'. At 1st the dca ctlr didn't realize the T-38 was at the wrong alt. Shortly thereafter, the conflict alert alarmed & the dca ctlr issued a tfc adzy. The T-38 plt immediately climbed to 8000', but before he climbed, radar data indcd the Airbus & T-38 passed each otr with 711' lateral clnc & 100' vertical clnc. The Airbus plt stated he saw the T-38 pass ahead fm left to rgt. The iad controller did notice tfc for the Airbus, but he did not issue a tfc adzry. Also, he said his conflict alert sys did not alarm; computer data indcd the alarm had operated.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N920NS
- Reported as
- Northrop T-38A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 66-8386
- Engine
- GE J-85, 5,000 lbs thrust, turbo jet
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Public aircraft · Part 91
- Registered owner
- National Aero. & Space Admin.
- Departed
- HOP · Ft Campbell, KY
- Destination
- ADW · Andrews Afb, MD
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Registration
- N806PA
- Reported as
- Airbus Industrie A-310 (A310)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 342
- Engine
- P&W JT9D, 50,000 lbs thrust, turbo fan
- Damage
- No damage
- Flight
- Part 121
- Registered owner
- Pan American World Airway
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Transport
- Departed
- IAD · Washington, DC
- Destination
- ORY · Paris,France, OF
- Flight plan
- IFR
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N920NS
- Age
- 44
- Certificates
- Commercial, Military
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 5,345 total · 2,388 in this make and model · 64 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N806PA
- Age
- 53
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 13,000 total · 1,340 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Instrument (IMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 2 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 800 ft broken
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- DCA, 20 nm away