# NTSB NYC82FA091: Cessna 172P, N53442, Sanford, ME, May 12, 1982 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 12, 1982, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Sanford, ME - Location: 43.4392° N, 70.7742° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Sanford, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4392&lon=-70.7742&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 12, 1983 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 72523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC82FA091 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/72523/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC82FA091 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - vehicle (contributing factor) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A PIPER PA-28, N81029, AND A CESSNA 172P, N53442, WERE APPROACHING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 14, WHEN THEY COLLIDED ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE THRESHOLD. THE PILOT OF THE PIPER STATED THAT HE HAD ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND BEGAN TO EXPLAIN THE MECHANICS OF THE PATTERN TO HIS DAUGHTER. AFTER MAKING A NORMAL LANDING, HE MADE A "RUNWAY TAKEOFF" AND BEGAN A SECOND PATTERN. HE STATED WHEN HE WAS ON BASE LEG FOR HIS SECOND LANDING, HE HEARD ANOTHER PILOT CALL ON A LEFT DOWNWIND. REPORTEDLY, HE THE TRANSMITTED THAT HE WAS ON BASE AND CONTINUED LOOKING FOR OTHER TRAFFIC. ON FINAL APPROACH HE SAW THE SHADOW OF N53442 ON HIS PLANE JUST BEFORE IMPACT. THE CESSNA PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TRACKED TO THE RADIO BEACON, AND AFTER BEACON PASSAGE, STARTED A LONG FINAL APPROACH. REPORTEDLY, HE CALLED ON A LONG FINAL APPROACH ABOUT 2 MILES OUT AND LOOKED FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT. JUST PRIOR TO COLLISION, HE SAW THE PIPER CONVERGING FROM BELOW. AFTER IMPACT, HE HAD PARTIAL CTL TIL HE CRASH LNDD IN A PARKING LOT & HIT A CAR. N81029 CRASHED IN UNCTLD DSCNT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A PIPER PA-28, N81029, AND A CESSNA 172P, N53442, WERE APPROACHING TO LAND ON RUNWAY 14, WHEN THEY COLLIDED ABOUT 1000 FT FROM THE THRESHOLD. THE PILOT OF THE PIPER STATED THAT HE HAD ENTERED THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND BEGAN TO EXPLAIN THE MECHANICS OF THE PATTERN TO HIS DAUGHTER. AFTER MAKING A NORMAL LANDING, HE MADE A "RUNWAY TAKEOFF" AND BEGAN A SECOND PATTERN. HE STATED WHEN HE WAS ON BASE LEG FOR HIS SECOND LANDING, HE HEARD ANOTHER PILOT CALL ON A LEFT DOWNWIND. REPORTEDLY, HE THEN TRANSMITTED THAT HE WAS ON BASE AND CONTINUED LOOKING FOR OTHER TRAFFIC. ON FINAL APPROACH HE SAW THE SHADOW OF N53442 ON HIS PLANE JUST BEFORE IMPACT. THE CESSNA PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD TRACKED TO THE RADIO BEACON, AND AFTER BEACON PASSAGE, STARTED A LONG FINAL APPROACH. REPORTEDLY, HE CALLED ON A LONG FINAL APPROACH ABOUT 2 MILES OUT AND LOOKED FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT. JUST PRIOR TO COLLISION, HE SAW THE PIPER CONVERGING FROM BELOW. AFTER IMPACT, HE HAD PARTIAL CTL TIL HE CRASH LNDD IN A PARKING LOT & HIT A CAR. N81029 CRASHED IN UNCTLD DSCNT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N53442](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N53442-1984-05-01), registration cancelled 1984-05-01, S/N 17274750 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P - Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17274750 - Airframe hours: 291 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-O2J 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: New England Aviation - Registered owner: New England Aviation - Departed: C, ROCHESTER, NY - Destination: C, SANFORD, ME - Airport: SFM, Sanford Municipal, runway 14, 4,100 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N81029 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-28-161 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8016110 - Airframe hours: 1082 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D36 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Roger Elliot - Registered owner: Roger Elliot - Departed: PORTLAND, ME - Destination: SANFORD, ME - Airport: SFM, Sanford Municipal, runway 14, 4,100 × 150 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N53442; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 1,864 total, 202 in this make and model, 1,750 as pilot in command, 68 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N81029; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 432 total, 432 in this make and model, 395 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Temperature: 133 °F - Observed at: PWM, 27 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 19820512015471A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820512015471A), May 12, 1982: Cessna 172M, Sanford, ME, Substantial damage. On a steep straight in approach collided with N81029 that had just turned a lower final from a left base leg. - [Accident 19820512015472A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19820512015472A), May 12, 1982: Piper PA28161, Sanford, ME, Destroyed. Was struck from above by N53442 while on final. N53442 was making a steep straight in approach for the same runway. 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.