# NTSB BFO89LA008: Cessna 207, N73114, Topping, VA, November 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: November 12, 1988, 15:33 local (20:33 UTC)
- Place: Topping, VA
- Coordinates: 37.59027, -76.460289 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.5903&lon=-76.4603&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 25, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11483
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO89LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11483/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO89LA008

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE PILOT OF N76470 DEPARTED ON RWY 18 AND FOLLOWED THE NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURE BEFORE TURNING DOWNWIND FOR RWY 18. THE PILOT OF N73114 DEPARTED THE GRASS RWY 18 AND FLEW THE NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURE PRIOR TO TURNING TO A HEADING OF 070 DEG TO DEPART THE AREA. THE PILOT OF N73114 STATED HIS ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO CHANGING THE RADIO FREQ WHEN HIS PASSENGER ALERTED HIM TO ANOTHER ACFT TO HIS RIGHT. HE STATED THAT BY TIME HE SAW THE ACFT THE COLLISION HAD OCCURRED. THE PLT OF N76470 STATED HE DID NOT SEE N73114 UNTIL AFTER THE COLLISION. N76470 WAS APRX 1/3 THE WAY DOWN THE DOWNWIND LEG AND N73114 WAS PASSING ACROSS THE DOWNWIND LEG WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT APRX 800 FT MSL. BOTH ACFT RETURNED AND LANDED AT HUMMEL AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

THE PILOT OF N76470 DEPARTED ON RWY 18 AND FOLLOWED THE NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURE BEFORE TURNING DOWNWIND FOR RWY 18. THE PILOT OF N73114 DEPARTED THE GRASS RWY 18 AND FLEW THE NOISE ABATEMENT PROCEDURE PRIOR TO TURNING TO A HEADING OF 070 DEG TO DEPART THE AREA. THE PILOT OF N73114 STATED HIS ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO CHANGING THE RADIO FREQ WHEN HIS PASSENGER ALERTED HIM TO ANOTHER ACFT TO HIS RIGHT. HE STATED THAT BY THE TIME HE SAW THE ACFT THE COLLISION HAD OCCURRED. THE PLT OF N76470 STATED HE DID NOT SEE N73114 UNTIL AFTER THE COLLISION. N76470 WAS APRX 1/3 THE WAY DOWN THE DOWNWIND LEG AND N73114 WAS PASSING ACROSS THE DOWNWIND LEG WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT APRX 800 FT MSL. BOTH ACFT RETURNED AND LANDED AT HUMMEL AIRPORT WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, takeoff - initial climb
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - downwind
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N73114](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73114-1990-01-05), registration cancelled 1990-01-05, S/N 20700560 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 207
- Registry model: [Cessna 207A](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-207a) (registry code 2073604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 20700560
- Airframe hours: 4365
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-DCF 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Hummel Aviation Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, September 19, 1988, 45 hours before
- Destination: TGI, TANGIER ISLAND, VA
- Flight plan: Company VFR
- Airport: W75, Hummel Airport

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N76470](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N76470), registered now, S/N 10902, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 120
- Registry model: [Cessna 120](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-120) (registry code 2071402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental C85 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c85-series) (registry code 17008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 10902
- Airframe hours: 1212
- Engines: CONTINENTAL C-85-12 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert W. Mcdaniel
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 1988, 42 hours before
- Airport: W75, Hummel Airport, runway 18, 2,500 × 45 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N73114; age 22; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 564 total, 36 in this make and model, 517 as pilot in command, 228 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N76470; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 697 total, 66 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F

## 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 19881112050341A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881112050341A), Nov 12, 1988: Cessna 207, Saluda, VA, Minor damage. During climbout flew into tail of N76470 that was down wind in pattern. Had turned off runway heading too soon.
- [Accident 19881112050342A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19881112050342A), Nov 12, 1988: Cessna 120, Topping, VA, Substantial damage. On downwind leg the tail was struck by N73114 that was climbing on upwind leg and had turned too early per pattern.

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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