# NTSB DEN83AA105: Cessna 340, N5415M, Rock Springs, WY, April 26, 1983 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report - Date: April 26, 1983, 11:03 local (17:03 UTC) - Place: Rock Springs, WY - Coordinates: 41.589141, -109.220771 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5891&lon=-109.2208&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 15963 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83AA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15963/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83AA105 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr) - radar traffic information service - not used, pilot in command - visual lookout - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE AIRCREW OF A CESSNA 340, N5415M, WERE SCHEDULED FOR AN AIR TAXI CHECK RIDE WITH AN INSPECTOR AT JACKSON, WY, LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. THEY HAD PLANNED TO TAKEOFF FROM ROCK SPRINGS, WY, PRACTICE A FEW INSTRUCMENT APCHS AT ROCK SPRINGS, THEN PROCEED TO JACKSON. AFTER TAKING OFF, THEY MADE AN NDB APCH, MADE A MISSED APCH, THEN BEGAN AN ILS APCH. A BEECH BONANZA, N1825F, WAS ON A FLT FROM SCOTTSBLUFF, NE TO ROCK SPRINGS. DURING ARRIVAL TO ROCK SPRINGS, THE BONANZA PLT WAS MONITORING THE POSITION OF A KING AIR THAT WAS AHEAD OF HIM & ALSO ON AN APCH TO THE SAME ARPT. ALL 3 ACFT WERE USING THE SAME FREQUENCY & ALL 3 WERE PROVIDING REPORTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS. AT APRX 1103 MDT, WITNESSES HEARD N5415M & N1825F COLLIDE, THEN SAW THE ACFT & PECES OF WRECKAGE FALLING. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CESSNA WAS INBOUND TOWARD THE OUTERMARKER (270 DEG COURSE) & THE BONANZA WAS IN LEVEL FLT, HEADING APRX 219 DEG. BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING VFR. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE AIRCREW OF A CESSNA 340, N5415M, WERE SCHEDULED FOR AN AIR TAXI CHECK RIDE WITH AN INSPECTOR AT JACKSON, WY, LATER IN THE AFTERNOON. THEY HAD PLANNED TO TAKEOFF FROM ROCK SPRINGS, WY, PRACTICE AT FEW INSTRUMENT APCHS AT ROCK SPRINGS, THEN PROCEED TO JACKSON. AFTER TAKING OFF, THEY MADE AN NDB APCH, MADE A MISSED APCH, THEN BEGAN AN ILS APCH. A BEECH BONANZA, N1825F, WAS ON A FLT FROM SCOTTSBLUFF, NE TO ROCK SPRINGS. DURING ARRIVAL TO ROCK SPRINGS, THE BONANZA PLT WAS MONITORING THE POSITION OF A KING AIR THAT WAS AHEAD OF HIM & ALSO ON AN APCH TO THE SAME ARPT. ALL 3 ACFT WERE USING THE SAME FREQUENCY & ALL 3 WERE PROVIDING REPORTS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE POSITIONS. AT APRX 1103 MDT, WITNESSES HEARD N5415M & N1825F COLLIDE, THEN SAW THE ACFT & PIECES OF WRECKAGE FALLING. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CESSNA WAS INBOUND TOWARD THE OUTERMARKER (270 DEG COURSE) & THE BONANZA WAS IN LEVEL FLT, HEADING APRX 219 DEG. BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING VFR. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N5415M (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 340 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340-0028 - Airframe hours: 2022 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Flight Brothers, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1983, 342 hours before - Destination: JAC, JACKSON, WY - Airport: RKS, Sweetwater County, runway 27, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N1825F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1825F-2014-12-02), registration cancelled 2014-12-02, S/N E-1897, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH A36 - Registry model: [Beech A36](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-a36) (registry code 1151604) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: E1897 - Airframe hours: 283 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-BB168B 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Neil O. Russell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 1982, 202 hours before - Departed: 82V, PINE BLUFFS, WY - Destination: RKS, ROCK SPRINGS, WY - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: RKS, Sweetwater County, runway 27, 10,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N5415M; age 31; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer; 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: 4,281 total, 31 in this make and model, 3,787 as pilot in command, 44 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days - Pilot, aircraft N1825F; age 55; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 688 total, 630 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 90 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RKS, 11 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 19830426015972A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830426015972A), Apr 26, 1983: Cessna 340CESSNA, Rock Springs, WY, Destroyed. Aircraft was practicing instrument approaches and climbing after practice missed approach when collision occurred. - [Accident 19830426015971A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830426015971A), Apr 26, 1983: Beech A36, Rock Springs, WY, Destroyed. Aircraft was making visual approach for landing when it collided with N5415M. 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.