# NTSB DCA87MA018: Swearingen SA-226TC, N163SW, Kearns, UT, January 15, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: January 15, 1987, 12:52 local (19:52 UTC) - Place: Kearns, UT - Coordinates: 40.650131, -112.009628 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6501&lon=-112.0096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 10 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 12, 1988 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 15871 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA87MA018.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15871/pdf - Board report AAR8803 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8803.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87MA018 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - became lost/disoriented - inattentive, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - reduced, pilot in command - radar,approach/departure - inadequate (contributing factor) - identification of aircraft on radar - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, maneuvering - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - became lost/disoriented - inattentive, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) - comm/nav equipment - inadequate (contributing factor) - radar,approach/departure - inadequate (contributing factor) - identification of aircraft on radar - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) - visual lookout - reduced, pilot of other aircraft - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE TWO ACFT, A SWEARINGEN SA-226TC AND A MOONEY M-20, COLLIDED IN FLT AT APRX 7000 FT MSL IN THE SALT LAKE CITY ARPT (SLC) RADAR SERVICE AREA OVER KEARNS, UT. THE SA-226 WAS APPROACHING SLC FOR LNDG AND THE M-20 WAS CONDUCTING A LOCAL TRNG FLT WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE SA-226 INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION IN THE FINAL MOMENTS BEFORE THE COLLISION. THERE WAS ALSO AN EXCLAMATORY EXPLETIVE ON THE RADIO AT ABOUT THE TIME THE RADAR TARGETS OF THE TWO ACFT MERGED. THE FINAL CONTROLLER SAW A RADAR TARGET EARLIER THAT WAS POSSIBLY THE M-20 BUT DID NOT SEE IT AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. THE M-20 HAD NO MODE-C TRANSPONDER TO HELP IDENTIFY IT ON RADAR. THE M-20 SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WHERE IT WAS WITHOUT CLEARANCE. THE PLT OF THE SA-226 HAD BEEN ADVISED OF ANOTHER ACFT TO ITS LEFT AND ASKED TO REPORTSIGHTING IT. THE M-20 APPROACHED THE SA-226 FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. AFTER THE COLLISION BOTH OF THE ACFT DESCENDED TO AN UNCONTROLLED CRASH. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION WAS VMC WITH VISIBILITY OF 30 MILES. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE TWO ACFT, A SWEARINGEN SA-226TC AND A MOONEY M-20, COLLIDED IN FLT AT APRX 7000 FT MSL IN THE SALT LAKE CITY ARPT (SLC) RADAR SERVICE AREA OVER KEARNS, UT. THE SA-226 WAS APPROACHING SLC FOR LNDG AND THE M-20 WAS CONDUCTING A LOCAL TRNG FLT WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT THE SA-226 INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION IN THE FINAL MOMENTS BEFORE THE COLLISION. THERE WAS ALSO AN EXCLAMATORY EXPLETIVE ON THE RADIO AT ABOUT THE TIME THE RADAR TARGETS OF THE TWO ACFT MERGED. THE FINAL CONTROLLER SAW A RADAR TARGET EARLIER THAT WAS POSSIBLY THE M-20 BUT DID NOT SEE IT AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION. THE M-20 HAD NO MODE-C TRANSPONDER TO HELP IDENTIFY IT ON RADAR. THE M-20 SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN WHERE IT WAS WITHOUT CLEARANCE. THE PLT OF THE SA-226 HAD BEEN ADVISED OF ANOTHER ACFT TO ITS LEFT AND ASKED TO REPORT SIGHTING IT. THE M-20 APPROACHED THE SA-226 FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. AFTER THE COLLISION BOTH OF THE ACFT DESCENDED TO AN UNCONTROLLED CRASH. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION WAS VMC WITH VISIBILITY OF 30 MILES. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N163SW (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: SWEARINGEN SA-226TC - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TC327 - Airframe hours: 15116 - Engines: GARRETT TPE-331 840 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Sky West Airlines Inc., doing business as Sky West Airlines/Western Expr - Registered owner: Gatx Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, January 14, 1987, 3 hours before - Departed: PIH, POCATELLO, ID - Destination: SLC, SALT LAKE CITY, UT - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: runway 34L, 12,003 × 150 ft ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N6485U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6485U-2014-11-12), registration cancelled 2014-11-12, S/N 2232, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M-20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2232 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Chester A. Baker - Registered owner: Dorsey D Edwards - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 1986 - Departed: U42, W. JORDAN, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N163SW; age 38; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,885 total, 1,863 in this make and model, 3,043 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 71 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N6485U; age 54; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,548 total, 242 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 9 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SLC ## 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 19870115081952A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870115081952A), Jan 15, 1987: Swrngn SA226TC, Salt Lake City, UT, Destroyed, 8 fatal. During vectors to Salt Lake City,was hit by N6485U,a dual unauthorized flight in asra.ATC failed to warn of traffic - [Accident 19870115081951A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870115081951A), Jan 15, 1987: Mooney M20C, Salt Lake City, UT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Dual flight entered asra without a clearance and hit N163SW that was on radar vectors for slc. Not radar identified 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.