# NTSB FTW82DA275: Cessna 402B, N87280, Austin, TX, July 10, 1982 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report - Date: July 9, 1982, 19:26 local (Jul 10, 1982, 00:26 UTC) - Place: Austin, TX - Coordinates: 30.280422, -97.729103 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2804&lon=-97.7291&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 9, 1983 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 69853 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW82DA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69853/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DA275 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - radar separation - not maintained, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - traffic advisory - delayed, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - Midair collision, approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - radar separation - not maintained, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis (aircraft 2) BOTH ACFT WERE APPROACHING FROM THE SSW & FLYING ASSIGNED HEADINGS. NEITHER ACFT HAD BEEN ASSIGNED AN ALTITUDE. JUST PRIOR TO IMPAT, APPROACH CONTROL (A/C) TOLD THE C-402B TO FLY 360 TO FOLLOW TRAFFIC & ASKED WHAT HIS ALTITUDE WAS. WHEN THE PLT RESPONDED HE WAS AT 2300 FT, A/C TOLD HIM "YOU'VE GOT A CHEROKEE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU." THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 5 SECS LATER. THE PA-28 MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A RETENTION POND. THE C-402B LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. OF THE 8 ATC PERSONNEL ON DUTY IN THE TRACON, ONLY 3 WERE ASSIGNED CONTROL POSITIONS. THE REMAINDER WERE EITHER ON BREAKOR OUT FOR DINNER. THE ACCIDENT CONTROLLER HAD 9 ACFT UNDER HIS CONTROL AT THE TIME. BOTH ACFT WERE WITHIN HIS CONTROL &HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TRANSPONDER CODES, RADAR IDENTIFIED & ASSIGNED HEADINGS FOR SEQUENCING. THE ONLY TRAFFIC ADVISORY HE ISSUED EITHER ACFT ABOUT THE OTHER WAS WHEN THE COLLISION WAS IMMINENT & HE TOLD THE C-402B THAT THE CHEROKEE WAS RIGHT THERE WITH HIM. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) BOTH ACFT WERE APPROACHING FROM THE SSW & FLYING ASSIGNED HEADINGS. NEITHER ACFT HAD BEEN ASSIGNED AN ALTITUDE. JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT, APPROACH CONTROL (A/C) TOLD THE C-402B TO FLY 360 TO FOLLOW TRAFFIC & ASKED WHAT HIS ALTITUDE WAS. WHENTHE PLT RESPONDED HE WAS AT 2300 FT, A/C TOLD HIM "YOU'VE GOT A CHEROKEE RIGHT THERE WITH YOU." THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 5 SECS LATER. THE PA-28 MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A RETENTION POND. THE C-402B LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. OF THE 8 ATC PERSONNEL ON DUTY IN THE TRACON, ONLY 3 WERE ASSIGNED CONTROL POSITIONS. THE REMAINDER WERE EITHER ON BREAKOR OUT FOR DINNER. THE ACCIDENT CONTROLLER HAD 9 ACFT UNDER HIS CONTROL AT THE TIME. BOTH ACFT WERE WITHIN HIS CONTROL &HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TRANSPONDER CODES, RADAR IDENTIFIED & ASSIGNED HEADINGS FOR SEQUENCING. THE ONLY TRAFFIC ADVISORY HE ISSUED EITHER ACFT ABOUT THE OTHER WAS WHEN THE COLLISION WAS IMMINENT & HE TOLD THE C-402B THAT THE CHEROKEE WAS RIGHT THERE WITH HIM. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N87280 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402B1099 - Airframe hours: 5870 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TS1O-520-E 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Kitty Hawk Airways, Inc. - Departed: SAN ANTONIO, TX - Destination: AUSTIN, TX - Airport: AUS, Robert Mueller, runway 13R, 7,269 × 150 ft, macadam ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N5224W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5224W-2013-04-02), registration cancelled 2013-04-02, S/N 28-261, built 1961 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28 - Registry model: [Piper PA-28](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28) (registry code 7102801) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-261 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-B2B 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lee Kirk - Registered owner: Lee Kirk - Departed: SAN MARCOS, TX - Destination: AUSTIN, TX - Airport: AUS, Robert Mueller, runway 13R, 7,269 × 150 ft, macadam ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N87280; age 23; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,900 total, 415 in this make and model, 3,900 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N5224W; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 505 total, 505 in this make and model, 470 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 7 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 198 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: AUS, 3 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 19820709070531A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820709070531A), Jul 9, 1982: Cessna 402B, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. Mid air collision occurred during radar vectors approaching airport for VFR landing. - [Accident 19820709070532A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820709070532A), Jul 9, 1982: Piper PA28*, Austin, TX, Substantial damage. Mid air collision occurred during VFR radar vectors by approach control. 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.