# NTSB DCA78AA013: Sud Avtn DA-20, N121GW, Memphis, TN, May 18, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: May 18, 1978
- Place: Memphis, TN · MEMPHIS, TN
- Location: 35.1495° N, 90.0490° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Memphis, TN, within about 10 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1495&lon=-90.0490&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 6 fatal
- Status: Completed, report September 4, 1979
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 79597
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA78AA013
- Board report AAR7814 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR7814.pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA78AA013

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1344  78/5/18    MEMPHIS,TN          CESSNA 150M         CR-  1  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             COMMERCIAL, AGE 30, 1615
        TIME - 1210                    N6423K              PX-  1  0  0  TRAINING                  TOTAL HOURS, UNK/NR IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  4  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MEMPHIS INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION         LAST ENROUTE STOP
          MEMPHIS,TN                  RETURN                       WEST MEMPHIS,TN
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: DESCENDING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: INADEQUATE SPACING OF AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: FAILURE TO ADVISE OF OTHER TRAFFIC
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - TOWER                               RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - CONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - YES                                  EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
        REMARKS- CONTROLLER OF CESSNA NOT AWARE THAT FALCON WAS BEING VECTORED TO TRAVERSE HIS AIRSPACE.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1344  78/5/18    MEMPHIS,TN          SUD AVTN DA-20      CR-  4  0  0  INSTRUCTIONAL             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1210                    N121GW              PX-  0  0  0  TRAINING                  31, 3647 TOTAL HOURS, 350
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  2  0  0                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - MEMPHIS INTL
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          MEMPHIS,TN                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  LANDING: TRAFFIC PATTERN-CIRCLING
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO SEE AND AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: INADEQUATE SPACING OF AIRCRAFT
           PERSONNEL - TRAFFIC CONTROL PERSONNEL: FAILURE TO ADVISE OF OTHER TRAFFIC
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
          CONTROLLING AGENCY - APPROACH CONTROL LANDING            RADAR CTL/SURVEILLANCE - UNDER RADAR CONTACT
          TRAFFIC ADVISORY ISSUED - NONE                           CONTROLLED/UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT - CONTROLLED AIRPORT
          CONTROL ZONE/AREA - YES                                  EVASIVE ACTION TAKEN - NO
          ANTI-COLLISION LIGHTS - INSTALLED,OPERATION UNKNOWN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- CONTROLLER OF FALCON ASSUMED COORDINATION HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BETWEEN LOCAL CONTROLLERS.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N121GW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N121GW-1981-06-06), registration cancelled 1981-06-06, S/N 4 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SUD AVTN DA-20
- Registry model: [Dassault/Sud FAN JET FALCON SER D](https://openairdocs.org/model/dassault-sud-fan-jet-falcon-ser-d) (registry code 2720304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo fan
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Memphis Intl

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N6423K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6423K-1978-06-15), registration cancelled 1978-06-15, S/N 15077697 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M
- Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Memphis Intl

## 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 19780518042561A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780518042561A), May 18, 1978: Amd FALCOND, TN, Destroyed
- [Accident 19780518042562A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780518042562A), May 18, 1978: Cessna A150K, Memphis, TN, Destroyed. Controller of Cessna not aware that falcon was being vectored to erse his airspace.

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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