# NTSB FTW90FA151: Cessna 172M, N1466V, Elmendorf, TX, August 7, 1990 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 7, 1990, 14:46 local (19:46 UTC) - Place: Elmendorf, TX - Coordinates: 29.249084, -98.329986 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.2491&lon=-98.3300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 23030 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW90FA151 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/23030/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90FA151 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS IN THE T-38 AND BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) IN THE CESSNA 172. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT (CFI) IN THE CESSNA 172 AND BY BOTH PILOTS IN THE T-38. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, copilot/second pilot (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A USAF T-38 & A CESSNA 172 COLLIDED AT 4200' MSL. DRG IMPACT, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF THE T-38 STRUCK THE RGT SIDE OF THE 172'S ENG. THE ENG SEPD & THE 172 PLTS LNDD ON A ROAD. THE T-38 DSCNDD OUT OF CTL, BUT THE T-38 PLTS EJECTED SAFELY. BFR IMPACT, THE STUDENT IN THE 172 (WITH A VISION RESTRICTING DEVICE) & HIS INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE PRACTICING AIR WORK MNVRS. THE TANDEM SEAT T-38A (WITH AN INSTRUCTOR PLT IN THE BACK SEAT & A RATED PLT IN THE FNT SEAT) WERE BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS RWY 33 APCH TO KELLY AFB. THE T-38'S SPD WAS ABOUT 330 KTS; THE SPD LIMITATION OF 250 KTS HAD BEEN WAIVED FOR T-38 ACFT, DUE TO THE ACFT'S LACK OF CONTROLLABILITY AT THE LOWER SPD. THE 172 WAS EQUIPPED WITH A TRANSPONDER, BUT IT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH MODE C. THE T-38 WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MODE C TRANSPONDER. BOTH ACFT WERE IN RADIO CTC WITH THE SAN ANTONIO SOUTH DEP CTLR, BUT ABT 3 MIN BFR THE COLLISION, RADAR SVC WITH THE 172 HAD BEEN TRMTD. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A USAF T-38 & A CESSNA 172 COLLIDED AT 4200' MSL. DRG IMPACT, THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF THE T-38 STRUCK THE RGT SIDE OF THE 172'S ENG. THE ENG SEPD & THE 172 PLTS LNDD ON A ROAD. THE T-38 DSCNDD OUT OF CTL, BUT THE T-38 PLTS EJECTED SAFELY. BFR IMPACT, THE STUDENT IN THE 172 (WITH A VISION RESTRICTING DEVICE) & HIS INSTRUCTOR (CFI) WERE PRACTICING AIR WORK MNVRS. THE TANDEM SEAT T-38A (WITH AN INSTRUCTOR PLT IN THE BACK SEAT & A RATED PLT IN THE FNT SEAT) WERE BEING VECTORED FOR AN ILS RWY 33 APCH TO KELLY AFB. THE T-38'S SPD WAS ABOUT 330 KTS; THE SPD LIMITATION OF 250 KTS HAD BEEN WAIVED FOR T-38 ACFT, DUE TO THE ACFT'S LACK OF CONTROLLABILITY AT THE LOWER SPD. THE 172 WAS EQUIPPED WITH A TRANSPONDER, BUT IT WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH MODE C. THE T-38 WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MODE C TRANSPONDER. BOTH ACFT WERE IN RADIO CTC WITH THE SAN ANTONIO SOUTH DEP CTLR, BUT ABT 3 MIN BFR THE COLLISION, RADAR SVC WITH THE 172 HAD BEEN TRMTD. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N1466V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1466V), registered now, S/N 17263603, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17263603 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Wright Flyers Inc. - Departed: SAT, SAN ANTONIO, TX - Destination: SAT - Airport: KSKF, Kelly Afb ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: USAF (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: NORTHROP T-38A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 64-13273 - Engines: GE J-85-OE-5H 2900 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Instructional, Armed forces - Operator: Department Of Defense, doing business as United States Air Force - Departed: RND, RANDOLPH AFB, TX - Destination: DLF, DEL RIO, TX - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: KSKF, Kelly Afb, runway 33, 11,550 × 300 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N1466V; age 43; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,232 total, 750 in this make and model, 2,734 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft 2; age 25; military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 538 total, 431 in this make and model, 219 as pilot in command, 105 in the last 90 days, 36 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 10 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F - Observed at: SAT, 20 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19900807031562A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900807031562A), Aug 7, 1990: Cessna 172M, Elmendorf, TX, Substantial damage. During a turn was hit by a USAF T38 that was vectored by ATC for ILS to kelly. ATC failed to advise of traffic. 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.