NYC08FA054

A low-wing, twin-engine Piper PA-30, piloted by a certificated private pilot, was operating on an instrument-flight-rules flight plan. A high-wing, single-engine Cessna 152, piloted by a certificated student pilot, was operating on a visual-flight-rules solo instructional flight. The Cessna student pilot was not communicating with air traffic control, nor was he required to. Both airplanes were operating in visual meteorological conditions. Both airplanes were also level at 2,000 feet, although, for undetermined reasons, the altitude encoder of the Cessna indicated that the airplane was 200 feet higher. The air traffic controller controlling the Piper advised the pilot of the presence of traffic, that was ultimately determined to be the Cessna, and the pilot responded that he was looking for it. The controller then turned his attention to other air traffic, and about 1 minute later again advised the Piper pilot of the traffic at 2,200 feet. Immediately after the transmission, a mid-air collision occurred between the two airplanes. Radar data revealed that between the two callouts by the controller, the Cessna had altered its course from a general heading of 220 degrees magnetic to a heading of 177 degrees magnetic. Sun position, about the time of the accident, was 27 degrees above the horizon, bearing about 227 degrees; however, the extent to which the sun factored in the Cessna student pilot's ability to see the Piper is unknown. The Piper pilot was required to wear corrective lenses, however it could not be determined if he was wearing corrective lenses at the time of the accident.

On December 8, 2007, at 1454 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-30, N766CC, operated by an private owner, and a Cessna 152, N24478, operated by Rohan Aviation, Incorporated, doing business as Kemper Aviation, were destroyed in a mid-air collision over The Everglades, near Parkland, Florida. The certificated private pilot in the Piper and the certificated student pilot in the Cessna were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The Piper was operating on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan from Ocala International Airport-Jim Taylor Field (OCF), Ocala, Florida, to Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The Cessna, which was not operating on a flight plan, departed Palm Beach County Airport (LNA), Lantana, Florida, for Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE), Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The solo instructional flight was also conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to a representative of the flight school, the student pilot had intended to fly from Lantana, over Willis Gliderport (FA44), Boynton Beach, Florida, then southward over a practice area, before turning southeastward and landing in Fort Lauderdale.

A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control data and voice transmissions revealed no voice communications with the Cessna, and none would have been required. Both airplanes had operating transponders and altitude encoders, with the Piper operating on a discreet transponder code, and the Cessna operating on a standard 1200 code for visual flight rules (VFR) traffic. Prior to the collision, the Piper was headed eastbound and the Cessna was headed southbound.

At 1440, the Piper pilot contacted Miami Approach Control, reporting he was at 4,000 feet, for the "localizer one five at Pompano."

At 1441, the controller cleared the Piper pilot to descend to 3,000 feet, which the pilot acknowledged, and at 1946, the controller instructed the pilot to fly heading 090, which the pilot also acknowledged.

At 1448, the controller told the Piper pilot to descend to 2,000 feet, which the pilot acknowledged.

At 1451:49, with the Piper indicating an altitude of 2,000 feet, the controller advised the pilot of VFR traffic, "two o'clock," northbound at 1,700 feet. The pilot did not initially see the other airplane, but after another advisory by the controller, the pilot acknowledged the traffic in sight at 1452:12.

The controller then provided services to pilots of five other airplanes, including an advisory about the Piper to one of them, and responded to another controller's inquiry.

At 1453:35, the controller advised the Piper pilot, "traffic eleven o'clock, two miles, southbound, altitude indicates two thousand two hundred," and the pilot responded, "six charlie charlie searchin' for traffic."

The controller then communicated with two other airplanes, until 1454:30, when he advised, "six charlie charlie, that traffic's passing left to right two thousand two hundred." Immediately thereafter, there was an unintelligible transmission on the frequency that was cut off.

There were no further transmissions from the Piper. Radar data indicated that, at the time of the last transmission, the Piper was heading 091 degrees at 2,000 feet, and the Cessna was heading 177 degrees at 2,200 feet.

Aircraft information

The Piper was a twin engine, low wing airplane, and the Cessna was a single engine, high wing airplane. There were no voice or data recording devices on either airplane.

The Piper's maintenance logbooks were not recovered. The Cessna's latest 100-hour inspection was completed on November 30, 2007.

Personnel information

The Piper pilot, age 56, held a private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land, airplane single engine sea, airplane multi-engine land, and instrument airplane ratings. The pilot's logbook was not recovered.

The Piper pilot's latest FAA third class medical certificate was issued on August 14, 2006, and on that date, he indicated 2,000 hours of flight time. Noted on the pilot's medical certificate, under limitations, was, "Must wear corrective lenses."

The Cessna pilot, age 25, held a student pilot certificate. His latest FAA first class medical certificate was dated June 22, 2007, with no restrictions noted. The student pilot's logbook was not recovered; however, flight school records indicated that he had 100 hours of flight time.

The air traffic controller entered the FAA in 1988, transferred to Miami ATCT/TRACON (Air Traffic Control Tower/Terminal Radar Approach Control) in December 1996 and became fully qualified in February 1998. The controller also held a commercial certificate with multi-engine and instrument instructor ratings, and was an active flight instructor, mostly in the Opa Locka, Florida, area.

Interviews with the controller revealed no personal or physical issues, and that the air traffic control equipment and working conditions were "normal."

Meterological information

Weather, reported at Pompano Beach Airpark, about 12 nautical miles to the southeast, at 1453, included scattered clouds at 2,300 feet, and visibility 10 miles.

A U.S. Naval Observatory sun position calculation for Palm Beach, at 1450, indicated that the sun was 27.6 degrees above the horizon, 221.4 degrees from true north. Magnetic variation was about 5.5 degrees west, indicating a relative sun position of about 227 degrees magnetic.

Wreckage and impact information

A debris field was located in the Everglades, about 1 mile west of the eastern shore, in the vicinity of 26 degrees, 20.83 minutes north latitude, 80 degrees, 18.92 minutes west longitude. Debris was scattered over several acres, in an area of 6- to 8-foot sawgrass overlying water that varied in depth from 6 inches to an estimated 8 feet.

The most prominent wreckage from the Cessna consisted of the wings, and part of the cabin overhead section. The engine, landing gear, and sections of the flooring and tail were found elsewhere in the debris field. The propeller was not located.

All flight control surfaces from the Cessna were accounted for at the scene.

There was a concave indentation along the leading edge of the right wing, about 9 feet long and 2 feet deep. The right wing strut was cleanly cut through, perpendicular to the plane of the strut, about 3 feet from the upper attach point.

The underside of the left wing exhibited cut marks, and scarring consistent with an impact of the left strut. The inboard 1 foot of the left aileron was displaced upwards about 6 inches.

The empennage was separated from the main cabin area, and the cabin roof, sides, and floor were all separated from each other. The landing gear and floor of the cabin remained attached. The vertical stabilizer was separated from the horizontal stabilizer, which was separated from the empennage.

The instrument panel was missing, including the altitude encoder; however, the engine mixture control was found in the rich position, and the throttle was bent at a mid-travel position.

The orange-colored propeller spinner was crumpled inward, and exhibited some rotational deformation and loss of paint.

The main wreckage of the Piper consisted of both wings, with the right engine attached to the wing and the right propeller attached to the engine. The left engine, and sections of the cabin and tail were found elsewhere in the debris field.

All flight control surfaces from the Piper were accounted for at the scene. The outboard 6-foot section of the left wing was separated from the rest of the wing. Within that section, there was an indentation, about 3 feet from the outboard edge and18 inches in depth, with orange paint transfers. Placement of the Cessna propeller spinner in the indentation revealed matched deformations. Angular measurements between folds in the indentation and the