# NTSB IAD78FA001: Fairchild M62A, N51874, Bealton, VA, October 2, 1977

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: October 2, 1977
- Place: Bealton, VA · BEALTON, VA
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 4 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1977
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 145189
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=IAD78FA001
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD78FA001

## NTSB brief (aircraft 2)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2953   77/10/2   BEALTON,VA          BOEING A75N1        CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 2213
        TIME - 1610                    N56940              PX-  0  0  1  AIR SHOW/RACING           TOTAL HOURS, 120 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  2                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FLYING CIRCUS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BEALTON,VA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
        REMARKS- JOINING FLT AS SLOT ACFT FOR DIAMOND FORMATION INTO A MODIFIED FLEUR-DE-LIS.UNDERRAN LEAD ACFT.
```

## NTSB brief (aircraft 1)

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2953   77/10/2   BEALTON,VA          FAIRCHILD M62A      CR-  0  0  1  MISCELLANEOUS             AIRLINE TRANSPORT, AGE
        TIME - 1610                    N51874              PX-  0  0  1  AIR SHOW/RACING           41, 10600 TOTAL HOURS, 75
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  2                            IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - FLYING CIRCUS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BEALTON,VA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH AIRCRAFT: BOTH IN FLIGHT                  IN FLIGHT: ACROBATICS
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PERSONNEL - MISCELLANEOUS-PERSONNEL: PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
        FACTOR(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
         SPECIAL DATA
          SEGMENTS OF AVIATION INVOLVED - SMALL US GEN.AV.-SMALL US GEN.AV.
        REMARKS- LEAD AIRCRAFT IN A DIAMOND FORMATION.
```

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N51874](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N51874), registered now, S/N T42-3699, built 1942 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FAIRCHILD M62A
- Registry model: [Fairchild M-62A](https://openairdocs.org/model/fairchild-m-62a) (registry code 3371604) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Fairchild 6-440 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/fairchild-6-440-series) (registry code 26003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Flying Circus

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N56940](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56940-1990-07-16), registration cancelled 1990-07-16, S/N 75725 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BOEING A75N1
- Registry model: [Boeing A75N1(PT17)](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75n1-pt17) (registry code 1380134) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Flying Circus

## 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 19771002043152A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771002043152A), Oct 2, 1977: Frchld M62A, Bealton, VA, Substantial damage. Lead aircraft in a diamond formation.
- [Accident 19771002043151A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19771002043151A), Oct 2, 1977: Boeing A75N1, Bealton, VA, Substantial damage. Joining flt as slot acft for diamond formation into a modified fleur-de-lis. Underran lead acft.

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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