# NTSB CHI86MA216: Boeing 737-222, N749N, Lansing, MI, August 30, 1986

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Major investigation · Final report
- Date: August 30, 1986, 09:48 local (13:48 UTC)
- Place: Lansing, MI
- Location: 42.7325° N, 84.5555° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Lansing, MI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7325&lon=-84.5555&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 61 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13542
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86MA216
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13542/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86MA216

## Sequence of events

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

- Near collision between aircraft, descent - normal
  - identification of aircraft on radar - not possible, atc personnel(dep/apch)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Near collision between aircraft, cruise - normal
  - identification of aircraft on radar - not possible, atc personnel(dep/apch)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

PIEDMONT FLT PI255 (A BOEING 737, N749N) WAS DSCNDG IN VISUAL CONDS ON AN IFR CLNC WHEN IT & A TWIN COMMANCHE (PIPER PA-30, N7399Y) CONVERGED & PASSED WITHIN A RPRTD 50 TO 100 FT OF EACH OTHER. THE NEAR COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE PA-30 WAS CRUISING WESTBOUND AT 8500 FT & FLT PI255 WAS DSCNDG TO 7000 FT. LANSING APCH CONTROL (CTL) HAD ADZD FLT PI255 OF VFR TRAFFIC (A BEECH E33) AT 6500 FT, BUT THE CTLR WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PA-30 SINCE ITS RADAR RETURN WAS BLOCKED OUT BY AN OVERLAP WITH THE BEECH E33, 2000 FT BELOW THE PA-30. THE PLT OF THE BEECH E33 WAS BEING PROVIDED VFR ADVISORIES BY APCH CTL. THE PA-30 WAS NOT ON A FLT PLAN & WAS NOT IN RADIO CONTACT WITH ATC. NEITHER OF THE CREWS INVOLVED IN THE NEARCOLLISION SAW THE OTHER ACFT. ALL 3 ACFT WERE TRANSPONDER EQUIPPED WITH ALT RPRTG CAPABILITY & ALL WERE SQUAWKING EITHERAN ASSIGNED OR AN APPROPRIATE CODE SUPPLEMENTED BY ALT REPLY.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N749N (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: BOEING 737-222
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 19547
- Engines: P&W JT8D 14500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 121
- Registered owner: Piedmont Airlines
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: DAY, DAYTON, OH
- Destination: LAN, LANSING, MI
- Flight plan: IFR

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N7388Y](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7388Y), registered now, S/N 30-443, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-30
- Registry model: [Piper PA-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-30) (registry code 7103002) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 30443
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320-B1A 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alan C. Buzzard
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MANVILLE, NJ
- Destination: GRR, GRAND RAPIDS, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N749N; age 32; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,400 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 180 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N7388Y; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,100 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg

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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