# NTSB MIA88LA057: Beech E-18S, N24JE, Natchez, MS, December 9, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 9, 1987, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Natchez, MS - Coordinates: 31.540252, -91.379913 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5403&lon=-91.3799&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 14, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 32105 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88LA057 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32105/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA057 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE TWO ACFT WERE REGISTERED TO THE SAME PERSON & THE PILOTS WERE FRIENDS OF EACH OTHER. THE ACFT DEPARTED FROM THE SAME AIRPORT AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME & WERE BOUND FOR THE SAME DESTINATION ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, N24JE AT 8000 FT, N492DM AT 4000 FT. LATER BOTH CANCELLED IFR & PROCEEDED VISUALLY. THE PLTS WERE IN TWO WAY RADIO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER & AGREED TO EACH ADJUST THEIR ALT TO 6500 FT. THEY MAINTAINED VISUAL SEPARATION FROM EACH OTHER ABOUT 1 MI ABREST. THEY STATED THAT THEY LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE PLT OF N24JE STATED THAT HE NEXT SAW THE OTHER ACFT AHEAD & TO HIS RIGHT & HE BANKED HARD TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE RIGHT LA\EADING EDGE OF THE WING OF N24JE STRUCK THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE LEFT WING OF N492DM. BOTH ACFT WERE ABLE TO LAND SAFELY & DENIED THEY WERE FLYING OR ATTEMPTING TO FLY FORMATION WITH EACH OTHER. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE TWO ACFT WERE REGISTERED TO THE SAME PERSON & THE PILOTS WERE FRIENDS OF EACH OTHER. THE ACFT DEPARTED FROM THE SAME AIRPORT AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME & WERE BOUND FOR THE SAME DESTINATION ON AN IFR FLT PLAN, N24JE AT 8000 FT, N492DM AT 4000 FT. LATER BOTH CANCELLED IFR & PROCEEDED VISUALLY. THE PLTS WERE IN TWO WAY RADIO CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER & AGREED TO EACH ADJUST THEIR ALT TO 6500 FT. THEY MAINTAINED VISUAL SEPARATION FROM EACH OTHER ABOUT 1 MI ABREAST. THEY STATED THAT THEY LOST VISUAL CONTACT WITH EACH OTHER SHORTLY THEREAFTER. THE PLT OF N24JE STATED THAT HE NEXT SAW THE OTHER ACFT AHEAD & TO HIS RIGHT & HE BANKED HARD TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT HE WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. THE RIGHT LEADING EDGE OF THE WING OF N24JE STRUCK THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE LEFT WING OF N492DM. BOTH ACFT WERE ABLE TO LAND SAFELY & DENIED THEY WERE FLYING OR ATTEMPTING TO FLY FORMATION WITH EACH OTHER. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N24JE (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BEECH E-18S - Category: Airplane - Serial number: BA330 - Airframe hours: 5824 - Engines: P&W R985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Aerovation, Inc. - Registered owner: Aerovation, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 19, 1987 - Departed: MSY, NEW ORLEANS, LA - Destination: LIT, LITTLE ROCK, AR ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N492DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N492DM-1995-07-06), registration cancelled 1995-07-06, S/N 5210874 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BEECH C-45H - Registry model: [Beech C-45H](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c-45h) (registry code 1151018) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5210874 - Engines: P&W R985 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: De Mint, Thomas - Registered owner: Thomas Demint - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: MSY, NEW ORLEANS, LA - Destination: LITL, LITTLE ROCK, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N24JE; age 56; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 7,051 total, 3,736 in this make and model, 6,988 as pilot in command, 317 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N492DM; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 5,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MCB, 58 nm away ## 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 19871209081652A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871209081652A), Dec 9, 1987: Beech E18S, Natchez, MS, Substantial damage. Right wing struck left wing of N492DM from behind. Pilots were friends flying near each other. Both landed safely. - [Accident 19871209081651A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871209081651A), Dec 9, 1987: Beech C45H, Natchez, MS, Substantial damage. Left wing was struck from behind by N24JE. Pilots were friends flying near each other. Both landed safely. 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.