NYC04FA185

A Cessna A150L and a Piper PA28-140 collided during cruise flight while flying under day visual flight rules in visual meteorological conditions at approximately 0912:20. Radar data and data extracted from global position system receivers (GPS) found in each airplane were utilized to document the airplanes positions relative to each other. The Cessna departed from an airport (CDW) about 0905, climbed to a radar altitude of about 2,600 feet, and then flew a relatively steady northwest track until the time of the accident. The Piper departed to the south from another airport (N07), about 0909, entered a climbing right turn, and then flew a relatively steady track of 325 degrees. Initially, after the turn to the northwest, the Piper was flying ahead and below the Cessna. The Piper continued to climb on a track of 325 degrees to a maximum GPS altitude of 2,680 feet, while being overtaken by the Cessna. Both airplanes collided while in straight and level flight. A visibility study was conducted using the GPS position data recovered. According to the study the airplane visibility charts the pilot of the Cessna had an approximate 21 second opportunity to acquire the Piper had he been scanning down and to his right, while cruising at 2,600 feet. The Piper at this time was climbing on a southerly track from 375 to 700 feet. The pilot of the Piper had a 21 second opportunity to acquire the Cessna, if he had been scanning forward and to his left while climbing out from 725 to 975 feet and turning from a course of 190 to 250 degrees, on departure to the west. The Cessna at this time was traveling to the northwest, and level at 2,600 feet. The two airplanes continued to converge until they collided and departed from controlled flight, respectively. The airplanes were not in a position for the respective pilots to see each other during the two and a half minutes that preceded the accident. The airplanes impacted the ground about 750 feet apart, in two distinct wreckage fields.

History of flight

On August 7, 2004, about 0912 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A150L, N6186F, and a Piper PA28-140, N95314, were substantially damaged when they collided during cruise flight, and impacted terrain in Kinnelon, New Jersey. The certificated private pilots on both airplanes were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for either flight. Both flights were personal flights conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The Cessna departed from the Essex County Airport (CDW), Caldwell, New Jersey. The airport was equipped with an air traffic control tower. The airplane departed from runway 9, about 0905, and the pilot requested a northwest departure. The Piper departed Lincoln Park Airport (N07), Lincoln Park, New Jersey. The Lincoln Park airport was not equipped with an air traffic control tower. A witness reported that he observed the airplane depart runway 19, sometime between 0910 and 0915.

A witness near the accident site stated he observed an airplane flying in a northerly direction, and a second airplane flying in a westerly direction. As the airplanes converged, the second airplane banked to the left, and impacted the back of the first airplane. The second airplane immediately rolled to the left, and began a 45-degree-angle descent toward the ground. The witness observed, what he believed was the left wing hanging from the airplane as it descended. The first airplane began to descend, and then made a climbing left turn. The airplane then pitched down 90 degrees, and descended toward the ground. The witness added that he clearly heard "normal" engine noise from both airplanes prior to the accident. He also stated that the first airplane's engine noise became "quiet," just before it pitched down.

Another witness stated he observed two airplanes "really close" to each other, with one directly behind the other. The airplanes were descending, and the first airplane rolled inverted before it disappeared from his view. The second airplane disappeared below the trees, and reappeared shortly thereafter in a climb. The airplane seemed to pitch straight up, then straight down, toward the ground.

After the collision, the airplanes came to rest about 8 miles northwest of CDW, and 3 miles west-northwest of N07. Small portions of debris, which included two antennas that were mounted on the upper surface of the Piper's fuselage, and the Piper's rotating beacon, were strewn along a northwest heading, for about 1/4 mile.

There was no record of either airplane communicating with air traffic control, or each other at the time of the accident.

The accident occurred during the hours of daylight approximately 40 degrees, 57.948 minutes north latitude, and 74 degrees, 21.678 minutes west longitude.

Personnel information

The pilot of the Cessna held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine-land rating. He reported 240 hours of total flight experience, on his most recent application for a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical certificate, which was issued on April 22, 2003.

Review of the Cessna pilot's logbook revealed that at the time of the accident, he had accumulated about 330 hours of total flight experience, which included about 7 and 22 hours in the accident airplane, during the preceding 30 and 90 days; respectively.

The pilot of the Piper held a private pilot certificate with ratings for single engine land and sea airplanes. He reported 590 hours of total flight experience, on his most recent application for an FAA third class medical certificate, which was issued on September 6, 2002.

Review of the Piper pilot's logbook revealed that at the time of the accident, he had accumulated about 830 hours of total flight experience, which included about 9 and 36 hours of flight experience, during the preceding 30 and 90 days; respectively.

Aircraft information

The Cessna had been operated for about 11 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed on June 30, 2004.

The Piper had been operated for about 152 hours since it's most recent annual inspection, which was performed on August 1, 2003.

Meteorological information

The weather reported at CDW, at 0853, was: winds from 300 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, ceiling 8,500 feet overcast, temperature 16 degrees C, dew point 10 degrees C, altimeter 29.94 in/hg.

Wreckage and impact information

The airplanes impacted the ground about 750 feet apart, in two distinct wreckage fields. After an initial examination at the accident site, the airplanes were recovered to the Greenwood Lake Airport, West Milford, New Jersey.

The Cessna was painted predominantly white with an approximate 14-inche-wide orange-red stripe over an approximately 1-inch-wide orange-red stripe on the left and right sides of the fuselage. The fuselage sides above the stripe from the cockpit forward were painted blue. The outer 3 feet of the wing upper and lower surfaces had a blue check pattern, as did the upper half of the vertical stabilizer. The lower half of the vertical stabilizer was painted with an orange-red check pattern, and the horizontal stabilizers had alternating orange-red and white stripes.

The Cessna came to rest in a wooded area, on its nose, in an almost vertical orientation. The airplane exhibited severe compression buckling from the nose to the wing leading edge, with the engine pushed back into the cockpit. The empennage was partially separated from the fuselage and displaced onto the right side of the airframe. The left horizontal stabilizer was located in a tree, adjacent to the airplane.

All major portions of the Cessna were accounted for at the accident site. Both wings remained attached to the airframe; however, their respective leading edges were crushed aft. The rudder, and the leading edges of the right horizontal and vertical stabilizers sustained minor damage. The left horizontal stabilizer was deformed and the leading edge contained a "u" shaped indentation, and embedded tree debris. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the rudder, right horizontal stabilizer, and left and right ailerons, to the forward cockpit area.

The right landing gear tire exhibited scuffing on the inboard and outboard sides. The right brake caliper housing fractured at the lower attach bolt and was rotated forward about the upper attachment. The right landing gear strut fairing was fractured at the step with some deformation present between the step and the lower end, and could be rotated freely about the strut. The left landing gear tire also exhibited scuffing on the inboard and outboard sides.

The propeller was separated from the engine, and contained chordwise scratches and "s" bending. The cockpit switches for the navigation lights and rotating beacon were observed in the "on" position.

The Piper was painted predominantly white with a 3-inch red stripe flanked by 1-inch blue stripes running down the left and right side of the fuselage. The N-number was painted in red below the stripes between the wing and tail and the vertical tail had a 6 inch band of red and blue striping about two-thirds the way up. Similar striping was also present on the landing gear fairings and wing tip caps. The upper engine cowlings were painted blue and there was a black glare shield area immediately forward of the windshield.

The Piper came to rest inverted in a wooded area, and on a heading of about 345 degrees. All major portions of the Piper were accounted for at the accident site. The airplane was examined in three major pieces.

The main fuselage section from the nose to about 6 feet aft of the trailing edge of the wing included the right wing, flap and aileron. The nose and left main landing gear were separated from the airplane. The tail section included the horizontal and vertical stabilizers and attached rud