# NTSB NYC88LA012: Cessna 172P, N97313, Bedford, MA, October 17, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 17, 1987, 17:38 local (21:38 UTC)
- Place: Bedford, MA
- Location: 42.4906° N, 71.2762° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bedford, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4906&lon=-71.2762&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 7, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36036
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC88LA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36036/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88LA012

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Midair collision, approach
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Midair collision, approach
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

A CESSNA 172, N97313, AND A BEECH C23, N6718Z, COLLIDED IN FLT AS THE PLTS OF BOTH ACFT WERE ARRIVING TO LAND ON RWY 11 AT HANSCOM FIELD. THE CESSNA PLT HAD PLANNED TO LAND AT BEVERLY, MA, BUT DIVERTED TO HANSOM FIELD DUE TO WX. THE CESSNA WAS IN A LEFT TURN AS THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED. THE BEECH PLT SAW THE CESSNA JUST BEFORE IMPACT & TOOK EVASIVE ACTION. DRG THE COLLISION, THE ELEVATOR OF THE BEECH C23 & THE RIGHT WING & PROP OF THE CESSNA 172 WERE DAMAGED; HOWEVER, BOTH PLTS WERE ABLE TO LAND SAFELY.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N97313](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N97313), registered now, S/N 17276177, built 1984 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172P
- Registry model: [Cessna 172P](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172p) (registry code 2072436) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17276177
- Airframe hours: 791
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-D2J 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Civil Air Patrol, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, February 13, 1987, 90 hours before
- Departed: FITCHBURG, MA
- Destination: BEVERLY, MA
- Airport: BED, Hanscom Field, runway 11, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N6718Z](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6718Z), registered now, S/N M-2271, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEECH C23
- Registry model: [Beech C23](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-c23) (registry code 1151242) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: M2271
- Airframe hours: 1867
- Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A4K 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Raytheon Employees Flying Club
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 1987, 54 hours before
- Departed: BED, BEDFORD, MA
- Airport: BED, Hanscom Field, runway 11, 7,001 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N97313; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 327 total, 70 in this make and model, 252 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N6718Z; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 863 total, 30 in this make and model, 752 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles

## 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 19871017060132A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871017060132A), Oct 17, 1987: Cessna 172P, Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. Was struck by N6718Z while circling to land in traffic pattern. Scud haze in area. Landed ok. No report from tower.
- [Accident 19871017060131A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19871017060131A), Oct 17, 1987: Beech 23BEECH, Bedford, MA, Substantial damage. Struck N97313 while circling in pattern. Haze and scud in area. Both landed safe. Did not give position to tower.

## Other investigations on N97313 (1)

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.

- [NTSB NYC91LA081](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC91LA081), Mar 1, 1991: Cessna 172P (N97313), Nashua, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO COMPENSATE FOR WIND CONDITIONS DURING LANDING, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH A TREE.

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.

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