# NTSB FTW95LA352: Cessna 172E, N5638T, Alpine, TX, August 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 20, 1995, 15:51 local (20:51 UTC) - Place: Alpine, TX - Coordinates: 30.360441, -103.659965 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3604&lon=-103.6600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 8 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19545 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA352 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19545/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA352 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. A FACTOR WAS THE CESSNA'S INOPERATIVE RADIO. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. A FACTOR WAS THE CESSNA'S INOPERATIVE RADIO. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), landing - roll - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - comm/nav equipment,vhf transmitter/receiver - inoperative (contributing factor) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), landing - roll - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - comm/nav equipment,vhf transmitter/receiver - inoperative (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE CESSNA 172E, N5638T, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 19, AND THE PIPER PA-31T, N53AM, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 5. THEY COLLIDED AT A RUNWAY INTERSECTION DURING THEIR RESPECTIVE LANDING ROLLOUTS. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER UNTIL THEY CONVERGED. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY MADE VHF RADIO CALLS ON THE LOCAL UNICOM FREQUENCY (122.8) TO ANNOUNCE THEIR APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT. THE UNICOM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT RECALL HEARING A TRANSMISSION FROM THE CESSNA, BUT DID HEAR A TRANSMISSION FROM THE PIPER. A GROUND TEST OF THE VHF TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER IN THE CESSNA SHOWED THE RADIO TO BE INOPERATIVE. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE CESSNA 172E, N5638T, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 19, AND THE PIPER PA-31T, N53AM, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 5. THEY COLLIDED AT A RUNWAY INTERSECTION DURING THEIR RESPECTIVE LANDING ROLLOUTS. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER UNTIL THEY CONVERGED. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY MADE VHF RADIO CALLS ON THE LOCAL UNICOM FREQUENCY (122.8) TO ANNOUNCE THEIR APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT. THE UNICOM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT RECALL HEARING A TRANSMISSION FROM THE CESSNA, BUT DID HEAR A TRANSMISSION FROM THE PIPER. A GROUND TEST OF THE VHF TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER IN THE CESSNA SHOWED THE RADIO TO BE INOPERATIVE. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) Refer to narrative for FTW95LA352A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On August 20, 1995, at 1551 central daylight time, a Cessna 172E, N5638T, collided with a Piper PA-31T, N53AM, during landing rollout at Casparis Municipal Airport, near Alpine, Texas. The occupants of the Cessna, a private pilot and 1 passenger, were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The occupants of the Piper, an airline transport pilot and 5 passengers, were not injured and the airplane sustained minor damage. Both airplane's were being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed for the Cessna during it's personal flight, and the Piper, on a corporate flight, had cancelled an IFR flight plan approximately 35 miles from the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for both flights. In an interview, the pilot of the Cessna reported that he attempted to obtain surface wind information on the Alpine Unicom frequency (122.8Mhz) as he approached the airport, but was unsuccessful. He further reported that he made "downwind" and "base leg" radio calls for landing on runway 19. Additionally, he reported that he "did not see any traffic" and proceeded to land on runway 19. During this time, the Piper was landing on runway 05. In a written statement, the pilot of the Piper reported that he contacted Unicom on 122.8Mhz, received an airport advisory, and transmitted that he would be "entering the pattern for runway 05." He further stated that he did not hear any "other radio traffic" on Unicom. After landing on runway 05, and approaching the intersection of runway 19, the pilot of the Piper "caught a glimpse of movement" and then saw a Cessna approaching on runway 19. The airplanes collided at the intersection of runway 05 and runway 19. The left wing strut of the Cessna and the left wing tip of the Piper made contact. The Cessna sustained structural damage to the left wing spar adjacent to the wing support strut. The Piper sustained minor damage to the left wing tip. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that he found the radio in Cessna to be inoperative during a ground test after the accident. Additionally, a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) employee, who was monitoring the Unicom frequency, stated that he did not hear any radio calls from the Cessna aircraft. The employee also reported that he did hear transmissions from the Piper. According to witnesses, the Piper landed just prior to the Cessna. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N5638T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5638T-2013-09-24), registration cancelled 2013-09-24, S/N 17251538, built 1964 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172E - 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: 17251538 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-300 145 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Low Flying Angels Club Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TX07, PRESIDIO, TX - Destination: E38 - Airport: E38, Alpine-Casparis, runway 19, 6,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N53AM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53AM-2020-08-02), registration cancelled 2020-08-02, S/N 31T-7920037, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-31T - Registry model: [Piper PA-31T](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-31t) (registry code 7103124) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 31T-7920037 - Airframe hours: 6678 - Engines: P&W PT-6 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jmk Holdings Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 21, 1995, 52 hours before - Departed: CRQ, CARLSBAD, NM - Destination: E38 - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: E38, Alpine-Casparis, runway 5, 5,016 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N5638T; age 55; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,994 total, 800 in this make and model, 1,881 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N53AM; age 47; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,100 total, 500 in this make and model, 120 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19950820025591A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950820025591A), Aug 20, 1995: Cessna 172E, Alpine, TX, Substantial damage. Landed on runway, collided at intersection with plane that landed on runway 05. Stated called. Radio inop. - [Accident 19950820025592A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950820025592A), Aug 20, 1995: Piper PA31T, Alpine, TX, Minor damage. Landed on runway and collided at intersection with N5638T that landed on runway 19. Stated made calls, verifified. ## Other investigations on N5638T (1) 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. - [NTSB FTW01FA098](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW01FA098), Apr 13, 2001: Cessna 172E (N5638T), Bay City, TX, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the pilot's delay in taking remedial action (contacting ATC) after he became lost/disoriented during a night cross country flight, which resulted in a forced landing due to fuel exhaustion.… 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.