# NTSB DCA86AA004: Dassault Falcon 50, N784B, Fairview, NJ, November 10, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report - Date: November 10, 1985, 17:22 local (22:22 UTC) - Place: Fairview, NJ - Location: 40.7963° N, 73.9969° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from TETERBORO (TEB), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7963&lon=-73.9969&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 6 fatal, 2 serious; on the ground: 1 fatal, 2 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Board-adopted at Board Meeting - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 15847 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DCA86AA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15847/pdf - Board report AAR8705 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8705.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA86AA004 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, circling (ifr) - planned approach - initiated, pilot in command - crew/group coordination - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - supervision - inadequate, atc personnel(supervisor) (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - traffic advisory - improper, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not attained, pilot in command - visual lookout - not attained, pilot of other aircraft - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, cruise - planned approach - initiated, pilot of other aircraft - crew/group coordination - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - supervision - inadequate, atc personnel(supervisor) (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - traffic advisory - improper, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - light condition - dusk (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not attained, pilot in command - visual lookout - not attained, pilot of other aircraft - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) DASSALT FALCON 50 (D50), N784B, WAS ON VOR/DME-A APCH AT DUSK TO CIRCLE/LND AT TETERBORO (TEB), AS PIPER PA-28, N1977H, WAS TRANSITING ARPT TRAFFIC AREA (ATA) FM WEST TO EAST AT 1500' IN VFR (NO FLT PLN). PA-28 PLT WAS CLRD THRU ATA BY TEB TWR (STAYING BLO TCA FLOOR AT 1800'). LCL CTLR (LC) WAS ALSO HANDLING SVRL OTR ACFT & RDO FREQ WAS CONGESTED. ARTS COM- PUTER DIDN'T ACQUIRE D50'S EARLY DEP FM MORRISTOWN. TRACON HAD COORDINATED D50 ARRIVAL WITH TEB TWR, BUT TWR COORDINATOR& CLNC DELIVERY CTLR FAILED TO SPECIFICALLY NOTIFY THE LC. LC WAS SURPRISED WHEN D50 CREW (ARRIVING AT A SOMEWHAT FAST SPEED) CONTACTED HIM. LC GAVE TRAFFIC INFO TO D50 CREW, BUT PROVIDED MISLEADING ADVISORY CONCERNING THE PA-28'S DRCTN OFFLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, D50 & PA-28 CONVERGED & COLLIDED AT EDGE OT ATA, 4.5 MI ESE OF ARPT. D50 CRASHED IN APARTMENT BLDG, KILLING 1 & INJURING 2. EVIDENCE OF BREAKDOWN IN ATC COORDINATION; ATC MANAGEMENT AT TEB FAILED TO RECOGNIZE & CORRECT OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS. BRITE RADAR AT TEB TWR DID NOT DISPLAY ALPHA NUMERIC DATA OR RANGE MARKS. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) DASSAULT FALCON 50 (D50), N784B, WAS ON VOR/DME-A APCH AT DUSK TO CIRCLE/LND AT TETERBORO (TEB), AS PIPER PA-28, N1977H,WAS TRANSITING ARPT TRAFFIC AREA (ATA) FM WEST TO EAST AT 1500' IN VFR (NO FLT PLN). PA-28 PLT WAS CLRD THRU ATA BY TEB TWR (STAYING BLO TCA FLOOR AT 1800'). LCL CTLR (LC) WAS ALSO HANDLING SVRL OTR ACFT & RDO FREQ WAS CONGESTED. ARTS COM- PUTER DIDN'T ACQUIRE D50'S EARLY DEP FM MORRISTOWN. TRACON HAD COORDINATED D50 ARRIVAL WITH TEB TWR, BUT TWR COORDINATOR& CLNC DELIVERY CTLR FAILED TO SPECIFICALLY NOTIFY THE LC. LC WAS SURPRISED WHEN D50 CREW (ARRIVING AT A SOMEWHAT FAST SPEED) CONTACTED HIM. LC GAVE TRAFFIC INFO TO D50 CREW, BUT PROVIDED MISLEADING ADVISORY CONCERNING THE PA-28'S DRCTN OFFLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, D50 & PA-28 CONVERGED & COLLIDED AT EDGE OF ATA, 4.5 MI ESE OF ARPT. D50 CRASHED IN APARTMENT BLDG, KILLING 1 & INJURING 2. EVIDENCE OF BREAKDOWN IN ATC COORDINATION; ATC MANAGEMENT AT TEB FAILED TO RECOGNIZE & CORRECT OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS. BRITE RADAR AT TEB TWR DID NOT DISPLAY ALPHA-NUMERIC DATA OR RANGE MARKS. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N784B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N784B-2011-05-09), registration cancelled 2011-05-09, S/N 118, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DASSAULT FALCON 50 - Registry model: [Dassault-Breguet FALCON 50](https://openairdocs.org/model/dassault-breguet-falcon-50) (registry code 2730106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Garrett TFE731 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/garrett-tfe731-series) (registry code 29001, turbo-fan) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 118 - Engines: GARRETT TFE-731-3-1C 3700 lbs thrust turbo fan - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 subpart F - Registered owner: Nabisco Brand Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Transport - Departed: MMV, MORRISTOWN, NJ - Destination: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: TEB, Teterboro, runway 19, 7,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N1977H (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-181 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-7790363 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Pegasus Corporation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 22, 1985, 237 hours before - Departed: CDW, CALDWELL, NJ - Airport: TEB, Teterboro ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N784B; age 37; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 8,265 total, 817 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N1977H; age 26; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 269 total, 92 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TEB, 4 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 19851110072851A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851110072851A), Nov 10, 1985: Amd FALCON50MYST, Teterboro, NJ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. The plane hit N1977H while circling to land in night, VFR conditions. Breakdown of ATC procedure caused conflict. - [Accident 19851110072852A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851110072852A), Nov 10, 1985: Piper PA28181, Teterboro, NJ, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Position lights were off when the plane was hit by N784B at night. A breakdown of ATC procedures caused conflict. 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.