# NTSB LAX82AA106: Boeing KC-135A, Glendale, AZ, March 13, 1982 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report - Date: March 13, 1982, 10:51 local (17:51 UTC) - Place: Glendale, AZ - Coordinates: 33.530197, -112.379898 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5302&lon=-112.3799&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 6 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 13, 1983 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 70836 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX82AA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/70836/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX82AA106 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - iaf to faf/outer marker (ifr) - vfr procedures - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, cruise - normal - en route charts - inadequate - vfr procedures - improper, pilot in command (cause) - lack of familiarity with geographic area, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE USAF KC-135 WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN & EXECUTING A TACAN 3L APCH TO LUKE AFB. THE AA-1 HAD DEPARTED SKY HARBOUR ARPT &HAD BEEN RELEASED BY PHOENIX TRSA. THE AA-1 WAS HEADING WESTERLY IN AIRSPACE DESIGNATED AS A SPECIAL TRAFFIC AREA & WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE BEEN AT OR BELOW 2,000 FT MSL. A PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT WHO WAS TRAILING THE AA-1 STATED THAT A LOW BROKENCLOUD COVER WAS ENCOUNTERED & HE HAD TO DESCEND TO ABOUT 2,000 FT TO REMAIN 500 FT BELOW THE BASES. HE STATED THE PLT OFTHE AA-1 DID NOT DESCEND BUT APPEARED TO BE SKIMMING ALONG IN & OUT OF THE BASES OF THE CLOUDS. HE NOTICED THE KC-135 DESCENDING THROUGH THE CLOUD DECK FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE COLLISION. THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 5 MI SOUTH OF LUKE AFB AT AN ALTITUDE OF 2,500 FT MSL. THE LOGBOOK OF THE AA-1 PLT INDICATED THIS WAS HIS FIRST TRIP TO THE PHOENIX AREA. LUKE AFB WAS DEPICTED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SECTIONAL CHART ONLY. VOR AIRWAY #16 WAS SPLIT ALONG AN E-W LINE WITH THE NORTHERN & SOUTHERN HALVES BEING DEPICTED ON EACH SIDE OF THE CHART. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE USAF KC-135 WAS ON AN IFR FLT PLAN & EXECUTING A TACAN 3L APCH TO LUKE AFB. THE AA-1 HAD DEPARTED SKY HARBOUR ARPT &HAD BEEN RELEASED BY PHOENIX TRSA. THE AA-1 WAS HEADING WESTERLY IN AIRSPACE DESIGNATED AS A SPECIAL TRAFFIC AREA & WAS REQUIRED TO HAVE BEEN AT OR BELOW 2,000 FT MSL. A PLT OF ANOTHER ACFT WHO WAS TRAILING THE AA-1 STATED THAT A LOW BROKENCLOUD COVER WAS ENCOUNTERED & HE HAD TO DESCEND TO ABOUT 2,000 FT TO REMAIN 500 FT BELOW THE BASES. HE STATED THE PLT OFTHE AA-1 DID NOT DESCEND BUT APPEARED TO BE SKIMMING ALONG IN & OUT OF THE BASES OF THE CLOUDS. HE NOTICED THE KC-135 DESCENDING THROUGH THE CLOUD DECK FOLLOWED IMMEDIATELY BY THE COLLISION. THE COLLISION OCCURRED ABOUT 5 MI SOUTH OF LUKE AFB AT AN ALTITUDE OF 2,500 FT MSL. THE LOGBOOK OF THE AA-1 PLT INDICATES THIS WAS HIS FIRST TRIP TO THE PHOENIX AREA. LUKE AFB WAS DEPICTED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE SECTIONAL CHART ONLY. VOR AIRWAY #16 WAS SPLIT ALONG AN E-W LINE WITH THE NORTHERN & SOUTHERN HALVES BEING DEPICTED ON EACH SIDE OF THE CHART. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: KC135 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BOEING KC-135A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 571489 - Engines: P & W J-57-P-59W 13750 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Both - Operator: Usaf - Registered owner: Usaf - Departed: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ - Destination: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: LUF ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N6160L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6160L-2014-10-29), registration cancelled 2014-10-29, S/N AA1-0360, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN YANKEE AA-1 - Registry model: [American AA-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-aa-1) (registry code 0630610) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AA1-0360 - Airframe hours: 1201 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-C2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: In-Flight - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James D. Breshears - Registered owner: James D. Breshears - Departed: PHX, PHOENIX, AZ - Destination: LVK, LIVERMORE, CA - Airport: LUF ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft 1; age 39; military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 3,604 total, 370 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N6160L; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 598 total, 110 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Day - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken - Temperature: 136 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LUF, 5 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 19820313003751A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820313003751A), Mar 13, 1982: Gulstm AA1, Glendale, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Mid air collision occurred as aircraft was cruising in level flight in close proximity to cloud layer. 2MIL-KC135A. 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.