# NTSB FTW87FA022: Cessna 172C, N7709U, Amarillo, TX, November 27, 1986 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: November 27, 1986, 16:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Amarillo, TX - Coordinates: 35.110252, -101.740509 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1103&lon=-101.7405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 22219 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW87FA022 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22219/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87FA022 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, landing - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual separation - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - communications - improper, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - acft/equip inadequate,visual restriction, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, landing - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual separation - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - radio communications - not corrected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE CERTIFICATED STU PLT OF THE CITABRIA WAS MAKING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS AT THE UNCONTROLLED ARPT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTH FLYING A LEFT HAND TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE BASE TO FINAL TURN WAS MADE APRX 1/4 MILE FROM THE RWY IN FRONT OF A CESSNA 172 WHICH WAS ALREADY ON FINAL. THE ACFT COLLIDED APRX 15 TO 25 FT AGL. THE PLT WAS DEMONSTRATING LANDINGS TO HIS FATHER AND DAUGHTER AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO TOUCHDOWN NEAR HIS FATHER'S CAR WHICH RESULTING IN A DIVERSION OF HIS ATTENTION. THE PLT HAD NOT BEEN ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE CESSNA 172 ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT THE UNCONTROLLED APRT FOR LANDING TO THE NORTH. THE PLT NOTICED ANOTHER ACFT DEPARTING TO THE SOUTH AND MADE THE DECISION TO RE-ENTER THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FOR A SOUTH LANDING USING A RIGHT HAND PATTERN. THE CESSNA TURNED FINAL APRX 1/4 MILE FROM THE RWY AND CONTINUED THE APCH. AT APRX 15 TO 25 FT AGL THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH THE CITABRIA WHICH TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTH WHEN THE CESSNA INITIALLY ENTERED THE PATTERN. THE PLT OF THE CITABRIA FAILED TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION WITH THE SECOND ACFT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N7709U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7709U-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 17251709, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172C - Registry model: [Cessna 172E](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172e) (registry code 2072412) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17251709 - Airframe hours: 2171 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300-C 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Kenneth A. Crossland - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 29, 1986, 69 hours before - Airport: 1E7, Bufallo, runway 19, 5,500 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N5508J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5508J), registered now, S/N 1048-78, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 7GCBC - Registry model: [Bellanca 7GCBC](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-7gcbc) (registry code 1220601) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1048-78 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William H. Butler, doing business as Western Plains Automotive - Registered owner: Knut G. Mjolhus - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, October 10, 1985, 85 hours before - Airport: 1E7, Bufallo, runway 19, 5,500 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N7709U; age 48; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 515 total, 66 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N5508J; age 37; student; seat: front; flight hours: 89 total, 34 in this make and model, 20 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AMA, 9 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 19861127080181A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861127080181A), Nov 27, 1986: Cessna 172E, Amarillo, TX, Destroyed. The aircraft was struck by the propeller of N5508J as it flew over same. The pilot failed to see the other aircraft - [Accident 19861127080182A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861127080182A), Nov 27, 1986: Bbavia 7GCBC, Amarillo, TX, Substantial damage. The aircraft struck N7709U on final. The uncertificated pilot was in an improper pattern and failed to clear area. 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.