# NTSB DCA87MA020: Piper PA-31-350, N60SE, Independence, MO, January 20, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: January 20, 1987, 12:28 local (18:28 UTC) - Place: Independence, MO - Coordinates: 39.119262, -94.40924 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1193&lon=-94.4092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 6 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): 15873 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA87MA020.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15873/pdf - Board report AAR8801 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8801.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87MA020 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, climb - to cruise - safety system(other) - lack of (cause) - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - monitoring - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - identification of aircraft on radar - not performed, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, cruise - normal - safety system(other) - lack of (cause) - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - monitoring - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - identification of aircraft on radar - not performed, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE TWO ACFT, A BEECH U-21A AND A PIPER PA-31-350, COLLIDED NEARLY HEAD ON AT 7000 FT MSL OVER INDEPENDENCE, MO. IN DAYLIGHT VMC CONDITIONS WITH A VISIBILITY OF 20 MILES. THE U-21 WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE AND THE PA-31 WAS CLIMBING EASTBOUND TO AN UNDISCLOSED ALT ENROUTE TO SAINT LOUIS. BOTH ACFT WERE EQUIPPED WITH OPERATING MODE-C TRANSPONDERS BUT THE CONTROLLER IN CONTACT WITH THE U-21 DID NOT OBSERVE THE CONFLICT AND TRAFFIC ADVISORIES WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE PA-31 WAS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH VISUAL FLT RULES. THE U-21 WAS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUMENT FLT RULES. AFTER THE COLLISION BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT EITHER ACFT TOOK ANY EVASIVE ACTION. THE CONFLICT ALERT SUBPROGRAM OF THE ARTS III TRACKING SYSTEM WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO ALERT THE CONTROLLERS TO THE IMPENDING COLLISION AND THE TWO CONTROLLERS DID NOT OBSERVE ANY TARGET IN THE VICINITY OF THE DATA BLOCK REPRESENTING THE U-21. (SEE NTSB/AAR-88/01). ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N60SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60SE-1989-10-16), registration cancelled 1989-10-16, S/N 318352010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31-350 - Registry model: [Piper PA-31-350](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31-350) (registry code 7103110) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31-8352010 - Airframe hours: 891 - Engines: LYCOMING TIO-540-J2BD 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sachs Electric Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 1986, 30 hours before - Departed: MKC, KANSAS CITY, MO - Destination: SUS, ST.LOUIS, MO ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: USA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BEECH U-21A-BH - Category: Airplane - Serial number: LM-62 - Airframe hours: 10729 - Engines: P&W T74-CP-700 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Armed forces - Departed: ANB, ANNISTON, AL - Destination: FLV, FT. LEAVENWORTH, KS - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N60SE; age 42; airline transport, flight instructor; 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: 7,418 total, 596 in this make and model, 6,988 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft 2; age 40; airline transport, military, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,983 total, 217 in this make and model, 4,912 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 13 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCI, 25 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 19870120081081A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870120081081A), Jan 20, 1987: Piper PA31350, Independence, MO, Destroyed, 3 fatal. Collided head on with army 18061 at 7000 feet. No evasive action. Crashed out of control.ATC failed to note traffic 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.