# NTSB NYC94LA130: Edward A. Alderfer EAA-3, N63EA, Middletown, OH, July 19, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1994, 20:55 local (Jul 19, 1994, 00:55 UTC) - Place: Middletown, OH - Coordinates: 39.559597, -84.420135 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5596&lon=-84.4201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38793 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC94LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38793/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC94LA130 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) Inadequate visual lookout by both pilots which resulted in a mid-air collision. A factor was the failure of the pilot of the ultralight to stay north of runway 26. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) Inadequate visual lookout by both pilots which resulted in a mid-air collsion. A factor was the failure of the pilot of the ultralight to stay north of runway 26. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A GYROCOPTER AND ULTRALIGHT COLLIDED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO DIFFERENT RUNWAYS. THE GYROCOPTER WAS ON FINAL FOR RUNWAY 23 WHEN IT WAS STRUCK FROM THE LEFT SIDE BY THE ULTRALIGHT WHICH HAD CROSSED THE FINAL FOR RUNWAY 23 AND THEN TURNED BACK TOWARD FINAL FOR RUNWAY 26. WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED, THE GYROCOPTER WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER AND IN FRONT OF THE ULTRALIGHT. THE ULTRALIGHT DESCENDED AND CRASHED. THE PILOT OF THE GYROCOPTER MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE GRASS BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY. BOTH PILOTS KEPT THEIR AIRCRAFT AT THE AIRPORT AND WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY, RUNWAYS 23 AND 26 HAVE RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERNS. IN ADDITION, THE ULTRALIGHTS WERE NOT TO FLY SOUTH OF RUNWAY 26. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A GYROCOPTER AND ULTRALIGHT COLLIDED WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH TO DIFFERENT RUNWAYS. THE GYROCOPTER WAS ON FINAL FOR RUNWAY 23 WHEN IT WAS STRUCK FROM THE LEFT SIDE BY THE ULTRALIGHT WHICH HAD CROSSED THE FINAL FOR RUNWAY 23 AND THEN TURNED BACK TOWARD FINAL FOR RUNWAY 26. WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED, THE GYROCOPTER WAS SLIGHTLY HIGHER AND IN FRONT OF THE ULTRALIGHT. THE ULTRALIGHT DESCENDED AND CRASHED. THE PILOT OF THE GYROCOPTER MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN THE GRASS BETWEEN THE RUNWAY AND TAXIWAY. BOTH PILOTS KEPT THEIR AIRCRAFT AT THE AIRPORT AND WERE FAMILIAR WITH THE AIRPORT. ACCORDING TO THE AIRPORT FACILITY DIRECTORY, RUNWAYS 23 AND 26 HAVE RIGHT TRAFFIC PATTERNS. IN ADDITION, THE ULTRALIGHTS WERE NOT TO FLY SOUTH OF RUNWAY 26. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See Narrative for NYC94LA130A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On July 18, 1994, at 2055 eastern daylight time, there was a mid-air collision between an experimental home built gyroplane, N63EA, and an unregistered, ultralight, gyroplane, at Hook Field Municipal Airport, Middletown, Ohio. N63EA received substantial damage and the ultralight gyroplane was destroyed. The pilot of N63EA was not injured and the pilot of the ultralight was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plans had been filed for the flights which operated under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Accident Report, the pilot stated: ...8:30 P.M. I departed, headed south, home field (Midd, Oh.) flew wide pattern around airport. About 8:45 Ron Deaton departed, headed south and turned west flying west of river. I observed him for a short time west of airport. At approx 9 P.M. I was in close pattern over river west of runway turned base, then final, near edge of runway at approx 100 feet altitude from ground, my aircraft struck (from my left)...Near broadside, his rotor hit my prop, rudder, vert stabilizer and left wheel (sitting my left) My aircraft went near out of control, but I was able to stabilize and land safely in medium between runway and taxiway, 1/8 mile from approach end of runway.... A witness reported: ...One gyro copter was lined up on final for runway 23 and descending for landing. The other gyro [copter] was level and turning from downwind to [right] base (runway 26). They collided north of approach end of [runway] 23. The top gyro had some glide and landed north of the north intersection in the grass between the taxiway and runway. The lower gyro had no glide and dropped, hitting the ground in the grass between the runway and taxiway at the north end.... Neither aircraft was equipped with a radio. The Middletown Airport was an uncontrolled airport with two runways. Runway 5/23 had a hard surface, was 100 feet wide, and 6100 feet long. Runway 8/26 had a turf surface, was 300 feet wide, and 2984 feet long. In addition to airplanes, ultralights resided at the airport. According to the airport manager, the flight path of unltralights would keep then north of runway 5/23. According to the airport facility directory, for Hook Field Municipal Airport, Middletown, Ohio, the published traffic pattern for runway 23 and 26 are right hand traffic. The remarks section contains the following: ...CAUTION: ...Ultralights do not fly south of runway 26.... The FAA reported that both pilots had based their aircraft at the airport and were familiar with the airport. An autopsy was conducted on the fatally injured pilot by Richard P. Burkhardt, M.D., Coroner of Butler County, Hamilton, Ohio. A test for drugs and alcohol was negative. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N63EA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63EA), registered now, S/N 13132-3 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: EDWARD A. ALDERFER EAA-3 - Registry model: [Alderfer Edward A EAA-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/alderfer-edward-a-eaa-3) (registry code 13027FA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Gyroplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 13132-2 - Airframe hours: 663 - Engines: ROTAX 652CC 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Edward A. Alderfer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 1994, 8 hours before - Departed: MWO - Destination: MWO, OH - Airport: MWO, Hook Field Municipal Arpt, runway 23, 6,100 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: UNKNOWN UNKNOWN - Category: Ultralight, amateur-built - Engines: reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald Deaton - Departed: MWO - Destination: MWO - Airport: MWO, Hook Field Municipal Arpt, runway 26, 2,984 × 300 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N63EA; age 54; private; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,650 total, 65 in this make and model, 1,650 as pilot in command, 47 in the last 90 days - Pilot, aircraft 2; age 58; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: DAY, 24 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19940718027111A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940718027111A), Jul 18, 1994: Amtrea EAABIPLANE*, Middletown, OH, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Turning for rwy 23 struck unregistered gyro on final for 26 and lower. Gyro supposed to land 26, gyro fell to earth 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.