# NTSB NYC89FA146: Cessna T210N, N212FS, Hubbardston, MA, June 12, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 12, 1989, 09:18 local (13:18 UTC)
- Place: Hubbardston, MA
- Location: 42.4737° N, 72.0062° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Hubbardston, MA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4737&lon=-72.0062&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 10, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 36287
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC89FA146
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/36287/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC89FA146

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE-AND-AVOID (ATTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT FOR) CONFLICTING TRAFFIC.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE-AND-AVOID (ATTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT FOR) CONFLICTING TRAFFIC.

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, cruise - normal
  - light condition - daylight
  - visual lookout - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not attained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Midair collision, unknown
  - light condition - daylight
  - visual lookout - not attained, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - not attained, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, unknown
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

CESSNA 210, N212FS, WAS CRUISING NE ON AN IFR CLNC AT 7000', SQUAWKING A DISCRETE TRANSPONDER CODE, WHILE CESSNA 172, N19649, WAS CONVERGING HEAD-ON, SQUAWKING 1200 (VFR CODE). THE 210'S GND SPD WAS 174 KTS; THE 172'S GND SPD WAS 138 KTS.THE ATC CTLR ADZD THE 210 PLT THAT THERE WAS 'TRAFFIC 12 O'CLOCK, 5 MILES, OPPOSITE DIRECTION, ALTITUDE UNKNOWN.'  THE 210 PLT ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT NEITHER HE NOR HIS PAX SAW THE CONFLICTING TRAFFIC UNTIL MOMENTS BEFORE IMPACT (NEAR A VOR STN). HE INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION, BUT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE ACFT TO RESPOND TO CTL INPUTS. DRG IMPACT, THE LEFT WINGS OF BOTH ACFT WERE DMGD. THE 210 CONTD FLYING & WAS SUCCESSFULLY LANDED, BUT THE 172 WENT OUT OF CTL & CRASHED. THE 210 PLT ESTIMATED THE VISIBILITY WAS AT LEAST 50 MILES. VISIBILITY AT THE NEAREST WX STN WAS RPRTD TO BE 40 MILES. THERE WAS NO RADIO CTC WITH THE 172. THE 210 PLT DID NOT USE HIS LNDG LIGHT & THERE WAS NO INDCN THAT THE 172 PLT HAD USED HIS LNDG LIGHT, NOR WWAS THE OF A LANDING LIGHT REQUIRED.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

CESSNA 210, N212FS, WAS CRUISING NE ON AN IFR CLNC AT 7000', SQUAWKING A DISCRETE TRANSPONDER CODE, WHILE CESSNA 172, N19649, WAS CONVERGING HEAD-ON, SQUAWKING 1200 (VFR CODE). THE 210'S GND SPD WAS 174 KTS; THE 172'S GND SPD WAS 138 KTS.THE ATC CTLR ADZD THE 210 PLT THAT THERE WAS 'TRAFFIC 12 O'CLOCK, 5 MILES, OPPOSITE DIRECTION, ALTITUDE UNKNOWN.'  THE 210 PLT ACKNOWLEDGED, BUT NEITHER HE NOR HIS PAX SAW THE CONFLICTING TRAFFIC UNTIL MOMENTS BEFORE IMPACT (NEAR A VOR STN). HE INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION, BUT HE DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE ACFT TO RESPOND TO CTL INPUTS. DRG IMPACT, THE LEFT WINGS OF BOTH ACFT WERE DMGD. THE 210 CONTD FLYING & WAS SUCCESSFULLY LANDED, BUT THE 172 WENT OUT OF CTL & CRASHED. THE 210 PLT ESTIMATED THE VISIBILITY WAS AT LEAST 50 MILES. VISIBILITY AT THE NEAREST WX STN WAS RPRTD TO BE 40 MILES. THERE WAS NO RADIO CTC WITH THE 172. THE 210 PLT DID NOT USE HIS LNDG LIGHT & THERE WAS NO INDCN THAT THE 172 PLT HAD USED HIS LNDG LIGHT, NOR WAS THE USE OF A LNDG LIGHT REQUIRED.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N212FS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N212FS-1991-03-06), registration cancelled 1991-03-06, S/N 21064477 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA T210N
- Registry model: [Cessna T210N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-t210n) (registry code 2073456) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 21064477
- Airframe hours: 1662
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-R 310 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Sheldon Gold
- Registered owner: Sheldon Gold
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, November 11, 1988, 54 hours before
- Departed: TEB, TETERBORO, NJ
- Destination: PWM, PORTLAND, ME
- Flight plan: IFR

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N19649](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19649-1995-05-11), registration cancelled 1995-05-11, S/N 17260636 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 172L
- Registry model: [Cessna 172L](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172l) (registry code 2072432) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 17260636
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Carl P. Mc Neal
- Registered owner: Carl P Mcneal
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 1988
- Departed: CAR, CARIBOU, ME
- Destination: HFD, HARTFORD, CT

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N212FS; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 792 total, 194 in this make and model, 792 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N19649; age 54; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 3,020 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ORH, 14 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 19890612015352A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890612015352A), Jun 12, 1989: Cessna T210N, Hubbardston, MA, Substantial damage. Advised of head-on traffic,failed to use avoidance procedures or see traffic. Collided with N19649. Landed safely.
- [Accident 19890612015351A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890612015351A), Jun 12, 1989: Cessna 172L, Hubbardston, MA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Failed to see and avoid head on traffic and collided with N212FS. Lost part of wing and tail impacted in a swamp.

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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