# NTSB FTW86FA027: Cessna 172B, N6876X, Caddo Mills, TX, December 28, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: December 28, 1985, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place: Caddo Mills, TX
- Location: 33.0507° N, 96.2443° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs from NTSB’s distance and direction from CADDO MILLS MUNI (7F3), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0507&lon=-96.2443&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21881
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86FA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21881/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FA027

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - light condition - daylight (contributing factor)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)
  - visual separation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual separation - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
- Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - visual separation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual separation - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

MID-AIR OCCURRED AT UNCONTROLLED ARPT WITH THE S-2B EXECUTING RT TRAFFIC, AS PUBLISHED, AND THE C-172 EXECUTING A LONG FINAL OR AN ARCING LFT TURN TO FINAL. BOTH ACFT WERE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RWY 17R. ACDT OCCURRED DURING LATE AFTERNOON AND THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE SUN GLARE. THE S-2B CAME OUT OF THE SUN AND COLLIDED WITH THE RT SIDE OF THE C-172 EMPENNAGE, CAUSING THE TAIL TO SEVER. AT THE TIME, C-172 WAS WINGS LEVEL IN A SLIGHT DESCENT, S-2B WAS IN A RT BANK, SLIGHT NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, DESCENDING. C-172 CRASHED IN AN OPEN FLD AND S-2B REGAINED CONTROL AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE. WITNESSES STATED THAT C-172 DID NOT TAKE EVASIVE ACTION AND PLT'S IN S-2B STATED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE THE C-172 UNTIL AFTER THE COLLISION. ARPT MGR DID NOT RECALL HEARING EITHER ACFT TRANSMIT ON UNICOM. SUN GLARE WOULD HAVE MADE ACQUISITION OF S-2B DIFFICULT FOR C-172 PLT AND RESTRICTED VISIBILITY OUT OF S-2B AFFECTED VISUAL ACQUISITION OF C-172 BY IT'S PILOTS.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

MID-AIR OCCURRED AT UNCONTROLLED ARPT WITH THE S-2B EXECUTING RT TRAFFIC, AS PUBLISHED, AND THE C-172 EXECUTING A LONG FINAL OR AN ARCING LFT TURN TO FINAL. BOTH ACFT WERE ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON RWY 17R. ACDT OCCURRED DURING LATE AFTERNOON AND THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE SUN GLARE. THE S-2B CAME OUT OF THE SUN AND COLLIDED WITH THE RT SIDE OF THE C-172 EMPENNAGE, CAUSING THE TAIL TO SEVER. AT THE TIME, C-172 WAS WINGS LEVEL IN A SLIGHT DESCENT, S-2B WAS IN A RT BANK, SLIGHT NOSE HIGH ATTITUDE, DESCENDING. C-172 CRASHED IN AN OPEN FLD AND S-2B REGAINED CONTROL AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE. WITNESSES STATED THAT C-172 DID NOT TAKE EVASIVE ACTION AND PLT'S IN S-2B STATED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE THE C-172 UNTIL AFTER THE COLLISION. ARPT MGR DID NOT RECALL HEARING EITHER ACFT TRANSMIT ON UNICOM. SUN GLARE WOULD HAVE MADE ACQUISITION OF S-2B DIFFICULT FOR C-172 AND RESTRICTED VISIBILITY OUT OF S-2B AFFECTED VISUAL ACQUISITION OF C-172 BY IT'S PILOTS.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N6876X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6876X-1995-03-01), registration cancelled 1995-03-01, S/N 17247776 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172B
- Registry model: [Cessna 172B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172b) (registry code 2072406) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17247776
- Airframe hours: 3752
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-D0D 145 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mike C. Neves
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, April 18, 1985, 44 hours before
- Departed: 20TA, PARIS, TX
- Airport: 7F3, Caddo Mills Muni, runway 17R, 4,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N5305A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5305A), registered now, S/N 5009, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PITTS S-2B
- Registry model: [Aerotek PITTS S-2B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerotek-pitts-s-2b) (registry code 0110304) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-540-series) (registry code 41568, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5009
- Airframe hours: 340
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO540D4A5 260 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Faulkner Investments
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic
- Last inspection: Annual, August 12, 1985, 27 hours before
- Departed: PLS, PALESTINE, TX
- Airport: 7F3, Caddo Mills Muni, runway 17R, 4,000 × 150 ft, concrete

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N6876X; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 725 total, 90 in this make and model, 650 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N5305A; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 6,500 total, 21 in this make and model, 5,900 as pilot in command, 81 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: DAL, 30 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 19851228066861A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851228066861A), Dec 28, 1985: Cessna 172B, Caddo Mills, TX, Destroyed. Indicates this aircraft made a straight in approach colliding with N5305A that was turning final. Neither saw other
- [Accident 19851228066862A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19851228066862A), Dec 28, 1985: Child S2BPITTS, Caddo Mills, TX, Substantial damage. Turning final overtook and collided with N6876X severing its tail. N6876X had made incorrect straight in pattern.

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.

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