# NTSB NYC89FA135: Cessna 172M, N1272U, Bradford, VT, May 21, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 21, 1989, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Bradford, VT - Location: 43.9959° N, 72.1245° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Bradford, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9959&lon=-72.1245&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 36285 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36285/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA135 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE OF THE RATED PILOTS IN BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISON. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) FAILURE OF THE RATED PILOTS IN BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISION. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Forced landing, landing - Midair collision, cruise - normal - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, check pilot (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) CESSNA 172M, N1272U, WITH A COMMERCIAL PLT & STUDENT PLT PASSENGER, COLLIDED IN FLT WITH CESSNA 172RG, N4974V, WHICH WAS BEING OPERD BY A PVT PLT & A DESIGNATED FAA CHECK PLT ON A COMMERCIAL PLT CHECK FLT. WITNESSES RPRTD THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED WHILE ON HDGS OF 30 TO 45 DEG FROM EACH OTHER. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS EVIDENT. DURING IMPACT, THE RGT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OF THE 172RG BECAME IMBEDDED IN THE WINDSHEILD OF THE 172M, & THE PROP OF THE 172M SEVERED THE TAIL OF THE 172RG. THE 172RG WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE 172M MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES TO THEMSELVES & MINOR DAMAGE TO THEIR ACFT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) CESSNA 172M, N1272U, WITH A COMMERCIAL PLT & STUDENT PLT PASSENGER, COLLIDED IN FLT WITH CESSNA 172RG, N4974V, WHICH WAS BEING OPERD BY A PVT PLT & A DESIGNATED FAA CHECK PLT ON A COMMERCIAL PLT CHECK FLT. WITNESSES RPRTD THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED WHILE ON HDGS OF 30 TO 45 DEG FROM EACH OTHER. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS EVIDENT. DURING IMPACT, THE RGT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OF THE 172RG BECAME IMBEDDED IN THE WINDSHIELD OF THE 172M, & THE PROP OF THE 172M SEVERED THE TAIL OF THE 172RG. THE 172RG WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE 172M MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES TO THEMSELVES & MINOR DAMAGE TO THEIR ACFT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N1272U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1272U-2013-09-19), registration cancelled 2013-09-19, S/N 17266967, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172M - Registry model: [Cessna 172M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172m) (registry code 2072418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17266967 - Airframe hours: 4747 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-02G 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Zackery A. Clark - Registered owner: Gold Coast Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 8, 1988, 244 hours before - Departed: EFK, NEWPORT, VT - Destination: 7B2, NORTHAMPTON, MA ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N4974V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4974V-1994-10-16), registration cancelled 1994-10-16, S/N 172RG0439 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172RG - Registry model: [Cessna 172RG](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172rg) (registry code 2072438) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172RG - Airframe hours: 1752 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-F1A6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Pcg Air - Registered owner: George Malloy - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 2, 1989 - Departed: LEB, LEBANON, NH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N1272U; age 26; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,111 total, 662 in this make and model, 1,059 as pilot in command, 402 in the last 90 days, 157 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N4974V; age 20; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 248 total, 197 as pilot in command, 51 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: LEB, 24 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 19890521012312A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890521012312A), May 21, 1989: Cessna 172M, Bradford, VT, Minor damage. On converging course struck N4974V and severed its tail which then crashed out of control. 1272U landed safely. - [Accident 19890521012311A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890521012311A), May 21, 1989: Cessna 172RG, Bradford, VT, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Was struck from the side and rear by N1272U on converging courses. Impact severed tail of 4974V which then spun in. 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.