# NTSB NYC87FA098: Cessna 402, N36139, Montgomery, NY, February 26, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: February 26, 1987, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Montgomery, NY - Coordinates: 41.520511, -74.230148 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5205&lon=-74.2301&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1989 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30486 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC87FA098 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30486/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC87FA098 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, descent - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - emergency procedure - delayed, pilot in command - Midair collision, cruise - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - inattentive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - emergency procedure - performed, pilot in command - Altitude deviation,uncontrolled, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES IN THE VICINITY OF ACTIVE AIRPORTS. THE CESSNA 402 WAS IN A CRUISE DESCENT. THE DECATHLON WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT. NEITHER PILOT IN THE 402 RECALLS SEEING THE DECATHLON, WHICH WAS STRUCK ON THE RT WING. THE DECATHLON PLT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID THE COLLISION HEAD ON. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE MID-AIR COLLISION THEY WERE OCCUPIED WITH WATCHING A MILITARY C5A TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS OPERATING IN THE SAME AREA. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE DECATHLON DESCENDED OUT OF CONTROL AND TURNED 180 DEGREES BEFORE THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND RETURN TO ORANGE COUNTY AIRPORT AND LAND WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES IN THE VICINITY OF ACTIVE AIRPORTS. THE CESSNA 402 WAS IN A CRUISE DESCENT, THE DECATHLON WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT. NEITHER PILOTS IN THE 402 RECALLS SEEING THE DECATHLON, WHICH WAS STRUCK ON THE RT WING. THE DECATHLON PLT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID THE COLLISION HEAD ON. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE MID-AIR COLLISION THEY WERE OCCUPIED WITH WATCHING A MILITARY C5A TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT WHICH WAS OPERATING IN THE SAME AREA. AFTER HEARING AN EXPLOSION IN THE NOSE AREA OF THE ACFT, THE CREW ELECTED TO RETURN TO TETERBORO AIRPORT AND LANDED UNEVENTFULLY APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N36139 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 402 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402C0297 - Airframe hours: 2013 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-VB 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Adestra Aviation Co. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 2, 1987, 6 hours before - Departed: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ - Destination: SWF, NEWBURGH, NY - Airport: runway 34, 6,006 × 150 ft, concrete ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N3252M (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: BELLANCA 8KCAB - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 10573 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-320-E1A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James Whiteford - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Aerobatic - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 1986, 20 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N36139; age 60; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 8,435 total, 815 in this make and model, 5,300 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N3252M; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 12 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken - Temperature: 39 °F, dew point -0 °F ## 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 19870226028372A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870226028372A), Feb 26, 1987: Bbavia 8KCAB, Newburgh, NY, Substantial damage. Collided with N3252M nearly head on. Had taken evasive action that minimized damage. Both aircraft landed safely. - [Accident 19870226028371A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870226028371A), Feb 26, 1987: Cessna 402C, Newburgh, NY, Minor damage. Collided with N36139 on descent to airport. Near head on collision, both aircraft damaged but landed safely. 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.