# NTSB CHI90FA190: Piper PA-28, N55354, Plymouth, MI, July 23, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1990, 09:34 local (13:34 UTC) - Place: Plymouth, MI - Coordinates: 42.329471, -83.479553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3295&lon=-83.4796&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 14538 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90FA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14538/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90FA190 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF THE PA-60. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT NEITHER OF THE FLIGHT CREWS HAD OBATAINED ATC/RADAR ASSISTANCE. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOT OF THE PA-60. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THAT NEITHER OF THE FLIGHT CREWS HAD OBTAINED ATC/RADAR ASSISTANCE. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, climb - to cruise - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - not obtained, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - not obtained, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, cruise - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - not obtained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - radar assistance to vfr aircraft - not obtained, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A PIPER PA-28, N55354, HAD DEPARTED PLYMOUTH, MI & WAS CLIMBING FROM 1300' MSL ON A COURSE OF ABOUT 282 DEG WITH A GND SPEED OF 80 KTS. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, A PIPER PA-60, N8060J, WAS CRUISING AT 2100' MSL ON A FLT FROM DETROIT TO JACKSON, MI, ON A COURSE OF ABOUT 258 DEG WITH A GND SPEED OF 165 KTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED AT 2100' MSL. BOTH ACFT THEN PLUNGED TO THE GND & CRASHED. RADAR DATA & WRECKAGE EXAM REVEALED THE PA-60 HAD CONVERGED FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE PA-28; THE PA-28 CONVERGED ON THE PA-60 FROM ITS LOWER, LEFT, FORWARD AREA. THE PA-28 WAS ON AN INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLT WITH A RATED PVT PLT & AN INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) ABOARD. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL WHICH SEAT THE CFI WAS OCCUPYING. NO FLT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR EITHER FLT, NOR WAS THERE ANY INDCN THAT EITHER FLT CREW HAD OBTAINED ATC/RADAR ASSISTANCE. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A PIPER PA-28, N55354, HAD DEPARTED PLYMOUTH, MI & WAS CLIMBING FROM 1300' MSL ON A COURSE OF ABOUT 282 DEG WITH A GND SPEED OF 80 KTS. AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, A PIPER PA-60, N8060J, WAS CRUISING AT 2100' MSL ON A FLT FROM DETROIT TO JACKSON, MI, ON A COURSE OF ABOUT 258 DEG WITH A GND SPEED OF 165 KTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED AT 2100' MSL. BOTH ACFT THEN PLUNGED TO THE GND & CRASHED. RADAR DATA & WRECKAGE EXAM REVEALED THE PA-60 HAD CONVERGED FROM THE RIGHT REAR OF THE PA-28; THE PA-28 CONVERGED ON THE PA-60 FROM ITS LOWER, LEFT, FORWARD AREA. THE PA-28 WAS ON AN INSTRUMENT TRAINING FLT WITH A RATED PVT PLT & AN INSTRUCTOR PLT (CFI) ABOARD. THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT REVEAL WHICH SEAT THE CFI WAS OCCUPYING. NO FLT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED FOR EITHER FLT, NOR WAS THERE ANY INDCN THAT EITHER FLT CREW HAD OBTAINED ATC/RADAR ASSISTANCE. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N55354](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N55354-1992-07-23), registration cancelled 1992-07-23, S/N 287325383 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-140](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-140) (registry code 7102802) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7325383 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E3D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Robert G. Gunn - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: 1D2, PLYMOUTH, MI ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N8060J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8060J-1992-06-15), registration cancelled 1992-06-15, S/N 600543175 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-60-600 - Registry model: [Piper AEROSTAR 600](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-aerostar-600) (registry code 7106001) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 60-0543-175 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1J5 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Federal Armored Service - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DET, DETROIT, MI - Destination: JXN, JACKSON, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N55354; age 65; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,200 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N8060J; age 34; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 7,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 6,800 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: YIP, 8 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 19900723028142A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900723028142A), Jul 23, 1990: Piper PA28140, Detroit, MI, Destroyed, 2 fatal. While climbing to cruise was overtaken and hit by N8060J cruising level. Impact severed wing and tail. Both crashed - [Accident 19900723028141A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900723028141A), Jul 23, 1990: Piper PA60600, Detroit, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. While level overtook and collided with N55354 climbing near same direction. Cut off tail and wing PA28. Both 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.