# NTSB FTW85FA117: Piper PA-32RT-300, N39516, Healdton, OK, February 12, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 1985, 09:49 local (15:49 UTC) - Place: Healdton, OK - Coordinates: 34.230056, -97.480133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2301&lon=-97.4801&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 3 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 21527 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21527/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA117 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - normal - proper altitude - not selected, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal - flight control,stabilator - separation - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground - Fire, other - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - proper altitude - not selected, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - normal - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE ACFT COLLIDED AT 4,500 FT MSL WITHIN APRX 15 DEGREES OF HEAD-ON. VMC WITH 30 MI VISIBILITY EXISTED WITH PLT REPORTED WINDS ALOFT AS BEING LIGHT FROM THE WEST. EN ROUTE RECORDED DATA INDICATED THAT N39516 WAS ON A TRUE COURSE OF 180 DEG AND N1162N WAS ON A TRUE COUSE OF 346 DEG. MAGNETIC VARIATION WAS APRX 7 DEG & 25 MIN EAST GIVING AN APRX MAGNETIC COURSE FOR N39516 OF 173 DEG AND 339 DEG FOR N1162N. ACCORDING TO FAR 91.109 N39516 SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING AN ODD THOUSAND FT MSL ALT PLUS 500 FT. THE STABILATOR OF N39516 WAS SEPARATED FROM THE VERTICAL FIN CAUSING THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILATOR OF N39516 VIOLATED THE CABIN OF N1162N FATALLY INJURING THE SOLO PLT. N39516 WAS CONSUMED BU POST-CRASH FIRE. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE ACFT COLLIDED AT 4,500 FT MSL WITHIN APRX 15 DEGREES OF HEAD-ON. VMC WITH 30 MI VISIBILITY EXISTED WITH PLT REPORTED WINDS ALOFT AS BEING LIGHT FROM THE WEST. EN ROUTE RECORDED DATA INDICATED THAT N39516 WAS ON A TRUE COURSE OF 180 DEG AND N1162N WAS ON A TRUE COURSE OF 346 DEG. MAGNETIC VARIATION WAS APRX 7 DEG & 25 MIN EAST GIVING AN APRX MAGNETIC COURSE FOR N39516 OF 173 DEG AND 339 DEG FOR N1162N. ACCORDING TO FAR 91.109 N39516 SHOULD HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING AN ODD THOUSAND FT MSL ALT PLUS 500 FT. THE STABILATOR OF N39516 WAS SEPARATED FROM THE VERTICAL FIN CAUSING THE UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THE LEFT HORIZONTAL STABILATOR OF N39516 VIOLATED THE CABIN OF N1162N FATALLY INJURING THE SOLO PLT. N39516 WAS CONSUMED BU POST-CRASH FIRE. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N39516](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39516-2013-05-23), registration cancelled 2013-05-23, S/N 32R-7885225 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32RT-300 (PA-32RT-30) - Registry model: [Piper PA-32RT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-32rt-300) (registry code 7103215) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: PA32R7885225 - Airframe hours: 2350 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540-K1G5D 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Hurricleen Leasing Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 1984, 88 hours before - Departed: OUN, NORMAN, OK - Destination: 8F7, DECATUR, TX ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N1162N (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20J - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-1283 - Airframe hours: 437 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Eagle Enterprises - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1984, 60 hours before - Departed: FTW, FORT WORTH, TX - Destination: PWA, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N39516; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 718 total, 683 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 38 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N1162N; age 49; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 724 total, 258 in this make and model, 573 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 2 knots - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ADM, 17 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 19850212074021A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850212074021A), Feb 12, 1985: Piper PA32RT300, Healdton, OK, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Horizontal stabilator impacted 1162N in flight. Control lost, impacted ground. Operating at wrong VFR altitude. - [Accident 19850212077932A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850212077932A), Feb 12, 1985: Mooney M20J, Healdton, OK, Destroyed. Horizontal stabilator of 39516 entered cockpit during mid air collision. Pilot fatally injured. 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.