# NTSB MIA96LA120: Mooney M20C, N9206V, St Augustine, FL, April 16, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 1996, 19:25 local (23:25 UTC) - Place: St Augustine, FL - Coordinates: 30.009309, -81.409599 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0093&lon=-81.4096&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 4, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38005 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA96LA120 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38005/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA120 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in their failure to see-and-avoid each other's airplane. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of traffic pattern position reports from the Christian Eagle, due to the reported failure of its VHF radio for undetermined reasons. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes, which resulted in their failure to see-and-avoid each other's airplane. A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of traffic pattern position reports from the Christian Eagle, due to the reported failure of its VHF radio for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - communications - not available, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - comm/nav equipment,vhf transmitter/receiver - undetermined (contributing factor) - communications - not available, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The pilots of a Mooney M20C, N9206V, and a homebuilt (Lemoine) Christian Eagle, N83BL, entered a left traffic pattern to land on runway 31 at an uncontrolled airport. While on final approach at an altitude of about 100 to 150 feet AGL, the two airplanes collided. Both airplanes continued the approach and landed without further damage. Investigation revealed that the pilot of the Mooney entered the traffic pattern for runway 31 from an upwind leg, then he announced his position with radio calls on all legs of the traffic pattern. The Christian Eagle pilot said that after completing a touch-and-go on runway 31, he remained in a standard left pattern. He stated that he had been listening to other aircraft and reporting his position in the pattern, but on downwind after the touch-and-go, his 'radio started to break up on transmission.' He stated that he turned base and final calling his position; however, neither the UNICOM operator nor pilots of other airplanes heard the Christian Eagle pilot announce his landing intentions. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The pilots of a Mooney M20C, N9206V, and a homebuilt (Lemoine) Christian Eagle, N83BL, entered a left traffic pattern to land on runway 31 at an uncontrolled airport. While on final approach at an altitude of about 100 to 150 feet AGL, the two airplanes collided. Both airplanes continued the approach and landed without further damage. Investigation revealed that the pilot of the Mooney entered the traffic pattern for runway 31 from an upwind leg, then he announced his position with radio calls on all legs of the traffic pattern. The Christian Eagle pilot said that after completing a touch-and-go on runway 31, he remained in a standard left pattern. He stated that he had been listening to other aircraft and reporting his position in the pattern, but on downwind after the touch-and-go, his 'radio started to break up on transmission.' He stated that he turned base and final calling his position; however, neither the UNICOM operator nor pilots of other airplanes heard the Christian Eagle pilot announce his landing intentions. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) SAME AS MIA96LA120A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On April 16, 1996, about 1925 eastern daylight time, a privately owned Mooney M20C, N9206V, and a privately owned homebuilt Christen Eagle, N83BL, collided while both were on final approach to land at the St. Augustine Airport, St. Augustine, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for either flight, which were both operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The Mooney sustained minor damage and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The Eagle sustained substantial damage and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The Mooney flight originated about 1800 from the St. Lucie County International Airport, Fort Pierce, Florida. The Eagle flight originated about 10 minutes earlier from the St. Augustine Airport. The eagle pilot stated he had performed one touch-and-go landing and the flight remained in the traffic pattern using left hand turns for a planned full stop landing. While on final approach to runway 31 about 150 feet above ground level, he felt an impact and observed damage to the right wing of his airplane. He landed with no further damage to his airplane. Postaccident airplane damage assessment indicates in part that the right main landing gear tire was contacted by the propeller of the Mooney. Also, propeller slash marks were located on the bottom of the fuselage from the wings to the empennage. An individual who was monitoring the UNICOM radio and another pilot who was inbound to the airport both stated that they did not hear the Eagle pilot announce his landing intentions. The Mooney pilot stated that while near the airport, he monitored the UNICOM frequency and entered the traffic pattern to land using left hand pattern, for runway 31. He announced all legs over the UNICOM frequency and while on short final approach about 100 feet above ground level, he felt a jolt and the airplane was forced down. He recovered and landed with no further damage to his airplane. Postaccident airplane damage assessment indicates that the propeller was damaged. The individual who was monitoring the UNICOM, and the pilot of another airplane who was inbound to land both reported hearing the Mooney pilot announce his landing intentions over the UNICOM frequency. The pilot of the other airplane also reported seeing the Mooney in left traffic for runway 31. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N9206V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9206V), registered now, S/N 690045, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20C - Registry model: [Mooney M20C](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20c) (registry code 5870208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 690045 - Airframe hours: 521 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael A. Gray - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 1995, 105 hours before - Departed: FPR, FORT PIERCE, FL - Destination: SGJ - Airport: SGJ, St Augustine, runway 31, 6,939 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N83BL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83BL-2015-05-13), registration cancelled 2015-05-13, S/N LEMOINE 0001, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LEMOINE CHRISTEN EAGLE (CHRISTEN E) - Registry model: [Lemoine Marvin J JR CHRISTEN EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/lemoine-marvin-j-jr-christen-eagle-ii) (registry code 05658GL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0001 - Airframe hours: 504 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1D 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald R. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 14, 1996, 0 hours before - Departed: SGJ - Airport: SGJ, St Augustine, runway 31, 6,939 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9206V; age 39; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 104 total, 72 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command, 56 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N83BL; age 61; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,124 total, 215 in this make and model, 1,060 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SGJ ## 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 19960416007412A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960416007412A), Apr 16, 1996: Mooney M20C, St Augustine, FL, Minor damage. On final was hit by N83BL homebuilt. Landed safely. Pilot failed use or monitor radio for traffic. - [Accident 19960416007411A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960416007411A), Apr 16, 1996: Amtr CHRISEAGLE2, St Augustine, FL, Substantial damage. On final felt bump. Wing collided with N9206V also on final. Tire cut by plane prop. Belly slashes. Failed use radio 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.