# NTSB FTW95LA208: Bellanca 17-30A, N8872V, Conroe, TX, May 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1995, 13:55 local (18:55 UTC) - Place: Conroe, TX - Coordinates: 30.320205, -95.470077 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3202&lon=-95.4701&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 25, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19425 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19425/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA208 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE BELLANCA PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATE HIS INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT. A FACTOR RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE BELLANCA PILOT TO ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATE HIS INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), landing - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - radio communications - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), takeoff - roll/run - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - radio communications - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A BELLANCA 17-30A WAS APPROACHING TO LAND ON RUNWAY (RWY) 19 AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, AS A PIPER PA-32-300 WAS TAKING OFF ON RWY 14. THE RWY CENTERLINES INTERSECTED ABOUT 1100 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 14 (ABOUT 510 FEET FROM A DISPLACED THRESHOLD ON RWY 14). THE APPROACH END OF RWY 19 WAS AT THE INTERSECTION. SUBSEQUENLTY, THE TWO AIRPLANES CONVERGED AND COLLIDED AT THE INTERSECTION. DURING IMPACT, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR OF THE BELLANCA COLLIDED WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND ENGINE COWLING OF THE PIPER. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE EQUIPPED WITH TWO WAY RADIOS. BOTH PILOTS REPORTED THAT THEY ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQ (122.95 MHZ); ALTHOUGH THE UNICOM OPERATOR, WHO HAD JUST COME ON DUTY, DID NOT RECALL HEARING EITHER PILOT ANNOUNCE INTENTIONS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE VHF RADIO OF THE DEPARTING PIPER WAS FOUND TUNED TO 122.7 MHZ; HOWEVER, THE PILOT OF A THIRD AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT HE HEARD THE PIPER PILOT MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE UNICOM FREQ THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 14. NO CORROBORATING INFORMATION WAS OBTAIN TO VERIFY THAT THE BELLANCA PILOT HAD COMMUNICATED HIS INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQ. ACCORDING TO THE PIPER PILOT, THE BELLANCA PILOT DID NOT MAKE A RADIO CALL AS HE WAS APPROACHING THE AIRPORT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, RWY 14 WAS REPORTED TO BE IN USE. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 120 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A BELLANCA 17-30A WAS APPROACHING TO LAND ON RUNWAY (RWY) 19 AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT, AS A PIPER PA-32-300 WAS TAKING OFF ON RWY 14. THE RWY CENTERLINES INTERSECTED ABOUT 1100 FEET FROM THE APPROACH END OF RWY 14 (ABOUT 510 FEET FROM A DISPLACED THRESHOLD ON RWY 14). THE APPROACH END OF RWY 19 WAS AT THE INTERSECTION. SUBSEQUENLTY, THE TWO AIRPLANES CONVERGED AND COLLIDED AT THE INTERSECTION. DURING IMPACT, THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR OF THE BELLANCA COLLIDED WITH THE WINDSHIELD AND ENGINE COWLING OF THE PIPER. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE EQUIPPED WITH TWO WAY RADIOS. BOTH PILOTS REPORTED THAT THEY ANNOUNCED THEIR INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQ (122.95 MHZ); ALTHOUGH THE UNICOM OPERATOR, WHO HAD JUST COME ON DUTY, DID NOT RECALL HEARING EITHER PILOT ANNOUNCE INTENTIONS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE VHF RADIO OF THE DEPARTING PIPER WAS FOUND TUNED TO 122.7 MHZ; HOWEVER, THE PILOT OF A THIRD AIRPLANE REPORTED THAT HE HEARD THE PIPER PILOT MAKE AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE UNICOM FREQ THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF ON RUNWAY 14. NO CORROBORATING INFORMATION WAS OBTAIN TO VERIFY THAT THE BELLANCA PILOT HAD COMMUNICATED HIS INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQ. ACCORDING TO THE PIPER PILOT, THE BELLANCA PILOT DID NOT MAKE A RADIO CALL AS HE WAS APPROACHING THE AIRPORT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, RWY 14 WAS REPORTED TO BE IN USE. THE WIND WAS REPORTED TO BE FROM 120 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) SEE NARRATIVE FOR FTW-95-L-A208A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On May 21, 1995, at 1355 central daylight time, a Bellanca 17- 30A, N8872V, collided with N7797C, a Piper PA-32-300, near Conroe, Texas. N8872V was destroyed by post impact fire, while N7797C sustained substantial damage. The private pilot of N8872V sustained serious injuries while the commercial pilot flying N7797C was uninjured. Neither airplane was carrying passengers. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 91 flights. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the Bellanca was landing on Runway 19, while the Piper was on takeoff roll from Runway 14 at the Montgomery County Municipal Airport, near Conroe, Texas. The right main landing gear from the landing Bellanca struck the windshield and engine cowling on the departing Piper. The UNICOM was reported to be operational on 122.95 at the time of the accident, and both airplanes were equipped with two-way radio communications. The pilot of the landing airplane stated in the enclosed pilot/operator report that he announced his intentions while entering the pattern, and followed another airplane landing on Runway 19. The departing pilot stated that he stated his intentions on 122.95 prior to taking the active runway. Post examination of the airplane revealed that his radio was tuned to 122.7. The UNICOM operator reported that she did not hear either the landing or the departing aircraft announce their intentions on the radio. The airport operator reported that Runway 14-32 is the primary runway at the Montgomery County Airport and was reported to be in use at the time of the accident. The winds at nearby Houston Intercontinental (IAH) airport were reported from 120 degrees at 8 knots. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N8872V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8872V-2013-09-11), registration cancelled 2013-09-11, S/N 30387, built 1971 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 17-30A - Registry model: [Bellanca 17-30A](https://openairdocs.org/model/bellanca-17-30a) (registry code 1220433) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 30387 - Airframe hours: 2020 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-K 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Baker, Stewart F. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1995, 3 hours before - Departed: 68F, TEAGUE, TX - Destination: CXO - Airport: CXO, Montgomery County, runway 19, 3,984 × 100 ft, concrete ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N7797V (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-32-300 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-7640050 - Airframe hours: 3318 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-540 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Habelman, Alfred C. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 18, 1994, 56 hours before - Destination: EYQ, HOUSTON, TX - Airport: CXO, Montgomery County, runway 14, 6,000 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N8872V; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 570 in this make and model, 2,900 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N7797V; age 43; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,512 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 1,408 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IAH, 22 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 19950521012251A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950521012251A), May 21, 1995: Blanca 1730A, Conroe, TX, Destroyed. Landing on inactive runway right main gear struck windshield and cowl of N7797 that was departing on active runway. 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.