- Date
- March 28, 2008, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Abbeville, LA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Defining events
- Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collisionApproach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 24, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA reports
- 20080328014581A20080328013142A
- Case key
- 67744
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other approaching airplane. A contributing factor was the close proximity between the two private airstrips.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
N9097P · Piper PA24-260
N36289 · Schweizer G-164B
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
N9097P · Piper PA24-260
N36289 · Schweizer G-164B
Analysis
A low-wing airplane and a bi-wing airplane collided while each airplane was on final approach to two separate private airstrips. The runways were perpendicular to one another and about one mile apart. The application spreader on the bi-wing airplane impacted the rudder and vertical stabilizer on the low-wing airplane. During the impact, the application spreader separated from the bi-wing airplane and the rudder and vertical stabilizer on the low-wing airplane sustained structural damage. Both pilots were able to land successfully at their respective airstrips.
Factual narrative
On March 28, 2008, approximately 1130 central daylight time, a single-engine Piper PA24-260 low-wing airplane, N9097P, and a Schweizer G-164B turbine powered agricultural bi-wing airplane, N36289, collided in-flight while the PA24 was on final approach to a private airstrip and the G-164B was on final approach to a second and perpendicular private airstrip. Both airstrips were located near Abbeville, Louisiana, and were approximately one mile apart. The PA24 was substantially damaged and the G-164B sustained minor damage. The private pilot of the PA24 and the commercial pilot of the G-164B were not injured. The PA24 was owned and operated by Cedar Aircraft Inc., of Cherokee, Iowa. The G-164B was owned and operated by Vincent Flying Service Inc., of Kaplan, Louisiana. The PA24 was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight and the G-164B was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and flight plans were not filed for either local flight.
The pilot of the PA24 reported that while on short final for runway 27 he spotted the G-164B approaching on a collision course at "the last second." The PA24 pilot took evasive action; however, the application spreader from the G-164B impacted the vertical stabilizer and rudder of the PA24. Both pilots were able to land successfully at their respective airstrips.
According to the pilot of the G-164B, he had not observed the PA24 before the impact. After landing he discovered that the airplane's application spreader was missing.
Photographs provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the PA24 vertical stabilizer and rudder sustained structural damage during the impact.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N9097P
- Reported as
- Piper PA24-260
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 24-4573
- Airframe hours
- 2,520
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mark P Cedar, doing business as Cedar Aircraft Inc
- Registered owner
- Cedar Aircraft Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 5, 2007
- Departed
- 0R3 · Abbeville, LA
- Destination
- Abbeville, LA
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
- N36289
- Reported as
- Schweizer G-164B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 746B
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20, 550 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Vincent Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner
- Vincent Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- Abbeville, LA
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 N9097P
- Age
- 47
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 850 total · 600 in this make and model · 800 as pilot in command
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N36289
- Age
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Unknown
- Last flight review
- January 26, 2007
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 25,000 total · 20,000 in this make and model · 25,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- ARA, 18 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 N9097P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.