# NTSB DCA85AA026: Beech E18S, N19T, Birmingham, AL, June 21, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1985, 21:01 local (Jun 21, 1985, 02:01 UTC)
- Place: Birmingham, AL
- Coordinates: 33.569969, -86.710052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5700&lon=-86.7101&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Major Investigations Division
- NTSB case key (mKey): 15833
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA85AA026
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15833/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA85AA026

## Sequence of events

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

- On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating
  - identification of aircraft visually - not performed, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - diverted attention, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - visual separation - not maintained, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - mental performance overload, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - atc clearance - improper, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, atc personnel(supervisor) (cause)
- Fire, other
- On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll
  - identification of aircraft visually - not performed, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - diverted attention, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - visual separation - not maintained, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - mental performance overload, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - atc clearance - improper, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, atc personnel(supervisor) (cause)
- Fire, other

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

AT 2045 THE MILITARY FLT, DIXIE 06, CONTACTED BIRMINGHAM APCH & OBTAINED CLEARANCE FOR A LOW APCH FOLLOWED BY A FULL-STOP LNDG ON RWY 05. AT 2053, DIXIE 06 REPORTED A 4 MILE FINAL FOR A LOW APCH TO THE LOCAL CONTROLLER. AT 2054:19, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER CLEARED ABX 74, N19T, '...TAXI POSITION AND HOLD FIVE.' ABX 74 WAS AWAITING TAKEOFF INSTRUCTIONS ONRWY 05 WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LOCAL CONTROLLER FORGOT ABX 74. SHE BECAME PREOCCUPIED WITH OTHER TRAFFIC USING RWY 36. THE LOCAL CONTROLLER TERMED THE TRAFFIC AS BUSIER THAN NORMAL FOR A NIGHT OPERATION. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE TOWER WAS STAFFED WITH 2 AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS AND AN AIR TRAFFIC ASSISTANT. NO SUPERVISOR OR COORDINATOR WAS AVAILABLE IN THE CAB TO DETECT CONTROLLER OVERLOAD AND OFFER ASSISTANCE.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N19T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19T-2013-04-11), registration cancelled 2013-04-11, S/N BA-147, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH E18S
- Registry model: [Beech E18S](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-e18s) (registry code 1151006) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: BA-147
- Airframe hours: 10936
- Engines: P&W R-985 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Part 135
- Registered owner: Smithair, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 14, 1985, 302 hours before
- Departed: BHM, BIRMINGHAM, AL
- Destination: ATL, ATLANTA, GA
- Airport: BHM, Birmingham, runway 5, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: AFNG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MCDONNELL DOUGLAS RF-4C
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 64-1032
- Airframe hours: 44813
- Engines: GE J79-15A 17000 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Armed forces
- Operator: Usaf, doing business as 117th Trg Wing Alabama A.N.G.
- Registered owner: National Guard Bureau
- Last inspection: Unknown, April 9, 1985, 178 hours before
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: BHM, Birmingham, runway 5, 10,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N19T; age 41; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,600 total, 5,000 in this make and model
- Pilot, aircraft 2; age 41; military; medical: unknown, unknown; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,561 total, 2,320 in this make and model, 2,467 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BMH, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19850620028912A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850620028912A), Jun 20, 1985: Beech E18S, Birmingham, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Holding on runway was struck by landing F4C. Controller overlooked holding N19T and cleared F4C to land.

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.