DEN00LA148

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150H · Albuquerque, NM · August 11, 2000

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 11, 2000, 09:45 local (15:45 UTC)
Place
Albuquerque, NM
Injuries
2 minor
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N6999SCessna 150HN7080YStinson AT-19
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 2, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
49966

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout. A contributing factor was the pilot not following recommended traffic pattern procedures.

the failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout. A contributing factor was the pilot of the other aircraft not following recommended traffic pattern procedures.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Midair collisionLanding
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause
Procedures/directives - not followedPilot in commandFactor
Midair collisionLanding
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause
Procedures/directives - not followedPilot in commandFactor

Analysis

The Stinson was performing a full stop approach to a landing to runway 35; his radio transmitter was inoperative. Another aircraft took the active in front of him and he performed a low level 360 degrees right hand turn, on final, for spacing. A Cessna, flying a left hand traffic pattern, impacted the Stinson on short final. The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual states that, unless otherwise indicated, all VFR traffic patterns are a rectangular box with left hand turns.

The Stinson was performing a full stop approach to a landing to runway 35; his radio transmitter was inoperative. Another aircraft took the active in front of him and he performed a low level 360 degrees right hand turn, on final, for spacing. A Cessna, flying a left hand traffic pattern, impacted the Stinson on short final. The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual states that, unless otherwise indicated, all VFR traffic patterns are a rectangular box with left hand turns.

Factual narrative

On August 11, 2000, approximately 0945 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N6999S, operated by a private individual, and a Stinson AT-19, N7080Y, operated by a private individual, collided on final approach to runway 35 at Coronado Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial pilot of the Cessna, the sole occupant on the airplane, received minor injuries. The airline transport pilot of the Stinson, the sole occupant on the second airplane, received minor injuries. Both flights were being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both flights were local flights, and neither had filed a flight plan.

The pilot of the Stinson said that he departed Coronado Airport at 0830 for local air-work and to practice landings at Double Eagle II Airport. He said that during the flight, his hand held transceiver's operating status became questionable; he continued to attempt transmissions. Witnesses reported not hearing any transmissions from the Stinson, and an FAA inspector reported that when he examined the radio after the accident, its battery was dead.

The Stinson pilot told the FAA inspector that he flew one approach to a landing at Coronado Airport, but had to go around due to an airplane on the runway. The pilot said that he flew a second traffic pattern and again an airplane took the active runway in front of him. A witness observed the Stinson turn to the east, at 100 to 250 feet above the ground, and disappear for a short time period, and then reappear turning a right short final. Another witness reported that the Stinson performed a "low level 360 degree turn." The Stinson pilot did not report any deviations from a standard left traffic pattern.

The pilot of the Cessna said that he departed Coronado Airport at 0845 for local air work. When he entered the traffic pattern for a full stop landing, witnesses reported that they heard the Cessna pilot transmit his position and intentions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). The pilot reported that while on final, he "settled" down onto the Stinson during the landing flare.

During the subsequent impact, the Cessna's right wing, right wing strut, right main landing gear, nose landing gear, nose, propeller, and both wing tips were damaged. Paint transfer was found on the Cessna's wing and wing strut. The Stinson's empennage was nearly separated from its fuselage, the right main landing gear was separated from the fuselage, and both wing tips were damaged.

The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) states that, unless otherwise indicated, all VFR traffic patterns are a rectangular box with left hand turns. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.113 and the AIM state that a VFR missed approach to a landing are flown down the runway or in such a manner so as not to fly over an airplane on the runway.

On August 11, 2000, approximately 0945 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N6999S, operated by a private individual, and a Stinson AT-19, N7080Y, operated by a private individual, collided on final approach to runway 35 at Coronado Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial pilot of the Cessna, the sole occupant on the airplane, received minor injuries. The airline transport pilot of the Stinson, the sole occupant on the second airplane, received minor injuries. Both flights were being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both flights were local flights, and neither had filed a flight plan.

The pilot of the Stinson said that he departed Coronado Airport at 0830 for local air-work and to practice landings at Double Eagle II Airport. He said that during the flight, his hand held transceiver's operating status became questionable; he continued to attempt transmissions. Witnesses reported not hearing any transmissions from the Stinson, and an FAA inspector reported that when he examined the radio after the accident, its battery was dead.

The Stinson pilot told the FAA inspector that he flew one approach to a landing at Coronado Airport, but had to go around due to an airplane on the runway. The pilot said that he flew a second traffic pattern and again an airplane took the active runway in front of him. A witness observed the Stinson turn to the east, at 100 to 250 feet above the ground, and disappear for a short time period, and then reappear turning a right short final. Another witness reported that the Stinson performed a "low level 360 degree turn." The Stinson pilot did not report any deviations from a standard left traffic pattern.

The pilot of the Cessna said that he departed Coronado Airport at 0845 for local air work. When he entered the traffic pattern for a full stop landing, witnesses reported that they heard the Cessna pilot transmit his position and intentions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). The pilot reported that while on final, he "settled" down onto the Stinson during the landing flare.

During the subsequent impact, the Cessna's right wing, right wing strut, right main landing gear, nose landing gear, nose, propeller, and both wing tips were damaged. Paint transfer was found on the Cessna's wing and wing strut. The Stinson's empennage was nearly separated from its fuselage, the right main landing gear was separated from the fuselage, and both wing tips were damaged.

The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) states that, unless otherwise indicated, all VFR traffic patterns are a rectangular box with left hand turns. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.113 and the AIM state that a VFR missed approach to a landing are flown down the runway or in such a manner so as not to fly over an airplane on the runway.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N6999S
Reported as
Cessna 150H
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15067699
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert E. Hartman
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · March 14, 2000 · 32 hours before
Departed
4AC
Airport
4AC · Coronado Airport, runway 35, 4,010 × 60 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N7080Y
Reported as
Stinson AT-19
Category
Airplane
Serial number
77-365
Airframe hours
116
Engine
Lycoming R-680, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Richard C. Mcmarlin
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · April 3, 2000 · 10 hours before
Departed
4AC
Airport
4AC · Coronado Airport, runway 35, 4,010 × 60 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N6999S
Age
81
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
6,572 total · 3,100 in this make and model · 6,357 as pilot in command · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N7080Y
Age
43
Certificate
Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
14,500 total · 200 in this make and model · 10,500 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
200° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
77 °F, dew point 55 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
ABQ, 8 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.

Other investigations on N6999S · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.