NYC82FA210

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 150M · Fairfield, NJ · August 29, 1982

Accident · FatalField investigationFinal report
Date
August 29, 1982, 09:20 local (13:20 UTC)
Place
Fairfield, NJ
Injuries
2 fatal, 1 minor
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N9121UCessna 150MN8998VCessna 172M
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 29, 1983
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
70658

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Midair collisionApproach - vfr pattern - downwind
Vfr procedures - improperPilot in commandFactor
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Traffic pattern procedure - congestedFactor
Visual separation - not maintainedAtc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)Factor
Midair collisionApproach
Identification of aircraft visually - not attainedPilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Visual lookout - not maintainedPilot of other aircraftCause
Traffic pattern procedure - congestedFactor
Visual separation - not maintainedAtc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc)Factor

Analysis

The C-172 had been cleared for an overhead approach to enter a right downwind. The plt reported overhead & rogered that he saw the traffic coming up on midfield. He also okayed that he could follow the traffic. He was then instructed to start his right turn. The tower then transmitted to the C-150 on downwind" on the downwind watch the traffic coming in from overhead sir." The C-150 & C-172 then collided. The C-150 had been performing touch & go landings. After his third departure he climbed to 700 ft, made a right 90 deg turn & climbed to 1,200 ft. the acft was leveled & a right 90 deg turn to downwind was made. The collision occurred as the acft rolled out. Published tower climb-out instructions for rwy 22 is a 20 deg right turn as soon as practicable, climb to 1,000 ft MSL before any further turns. Of the three controllers in the tower, two were not facility-rated & were in training. The traffic pattern was congested with acft in closed patterns.

The C-172 had been cleared for an overhead approach to enter a right downwind. The plt reported overhead & rogered that he saw the traffic coming up on midfield. He also okayed that he could follow the traffic. He was then instructed to start his right turn. The tower then transmitted to the C-150 on downwind "on the downwind watch the traffic coming in from overhead sir." The C-150 & C-172 then collided. The C-150 had been performing touch & go landings. After his third departure he climbed to 700 ft, made a right 90 deg turn & climbed to 1,200 ft. the acft was leveled & a right 90 deg turn to downwind was made. The collision occurred as the acft rolled out. Published tower climb-out instructions for rwy 22 is a 20 deg right turn as soon as practicable, climb to 1,000 ft MSL before any further turns. Of the three controllers in the tower, two were not facility-rated & were in training. The traffic pattern was congested with acft in closed patterns.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N9121U
Reported as
Cessna 150M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
15078072
Airframe hours
818
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Liberty Aviation, Inc.
Registered owner
Days Flying Service
Departed
CDW · Fairfield, NJ
Destination
CDW · Fairfield, NJ
Airport
CDW · Essex County, runway 22, 4,553 × 80 ft

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N8998V
Reported as
Cessna 172M
Category
Airplane
Serial number
17264353
Airframe hours
1,040
Engine
Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
General Aviation Company
Registered owner
J. Kenneth Forrester, Inc.
Departed
Teterboro, NJ
Destination
Teterboro, NJ
Airport
CDW · Essex County, runway 22, 4,553 × 80 ft

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N9121U
Age
31
Certificate
Student
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
21 total · 21 in this make and model · 5 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N8998V
Age
26
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Flight hours
411 total · 70 in this make and model · 268 as pilot in command

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
220° at 4 knots
Visibility
25 statute miles
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
CDW

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.