# NTSB SEA86FA121: Cessna 152, N6161M, Mead, WA, May 20, 1986 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: May 19, 1986, 19:38 local (May 20, 1986, 02:38 UTC) - Place: Mead, WA - Coordinates: 47.829536, -117.209426 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8295&lon=-117.2094&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 40281 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA86FA121 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/40281/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA86FA121 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, descent - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - diverted attention, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - weather condition - haze/smoke (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency ## Analysis (aircraft 2) BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING IN VFR CONDITIONS MODIFIED BY SLIGHT HAZE, HIGH OVERCAST AND LOW SUN ANGLE NEAR AIRPORT. N6161M WAS PERFORMING LAZY EIGHT MANEUVERS IN A NORMAL PRACTICE AREA TWO MILES EAST OF AIRPORT; N8267Q WAS IN CLOCKWISE ORBITAL DESCENT FOR LANDING FOLLOWING A PARACHUTE JUMP PLANE. RADAR DATA AND WITNESS INFORMTION SHOW THAT ON EAST SIDE OF AIRPORT, N8267Q DEVIATED FROM ORBIT AND PROCEEDED SOUTHEAST AS N6161M COMPLETED NORTH END OF FIGURE EIGHT IN RIGHT TURN AWAY FROM AIRPORT AND PROCEEDED SOUTH. ACFT CONVERGED AT ABOUT 30 DEGREE CLOSING ANGLE WITH N6161M CLIMBING AND N8267Q DESCENDING AND COLLIDED AT ABOUT 2500 FT AGL. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING IN VFR CONDITIONS MODIFIED BY SLIGHT HAZE, HIGH OVERCAST AND LOW SUN ANGLE NEAR AIRPORT. N6161M WAS PERFORMING LAZY EIGHT MANEUVERS IN A NORMAL PRACTICE AREA TWO MILES EAST OF AIRPORT; N8267Q WAS IN CLOCKWISE ORBITAL DESCENT FOR LANDING FOLLOWING A PARACHUTE JUMP PLANE. RADAR DATA AND WITNESS INFORMATION SHOW THAT ON EAST SIDE OF AIRPORT, N8267Q DEVIATED FROM ORBIT AND PROCEEDED SOUTHEAST AS N6161M COMPLETED NORTH END OF FIGURE EIGHT IN RIGHT TURN AWAY FROM AIRPORT AND PROCEEDED SOUTH. ACFT CONVERGED AT ABOUT 30 DEGREE CLOSING ANGLE WITH N6161M CLIMBING AND N8267Q DESCENDING AND COLLIDED AT ABOUT 2500 FT AGL. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N6161M (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15284632 - Airframe hours: 1444 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: John H. Nichols - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 1986, 40 hours before - Departed: SFF, SPOKANE, WA ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N8267Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8267Q-2013-07-09), registration cancelled 2013-07-09, S/N U20603128, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA TU206F - Registry model: [Cessna U206F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206f) (registry code 2073333) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-520-series) (registry code 17040, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: U20603128 - Airframe hours: 1401 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520-C 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Skydiving, Part 91 - Operator: Ronald Fleming - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1985, 204 hours before - Departed: S07, BEND, OR - Destination: 70S, MEAD, WA - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N6161M; age 45; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,800 total, 60 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N8267Q; age 41; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,700 total, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: SFF, 7 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 19860519045092A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860519045092A), May 19, 1986: Cessna 152, Mead, WA, Destroyed. During practice maneuvers was struck by 8267Q a Cessna 206 that was circling to land. Impact disintegrated the 152. - [Accident 19860519045091A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860519045091A), May 19, 1986: Cessna TU206F, Mead, WA, Destroyed. While circling to land collided with a 152,6161M,that was practicing maneuvers. Crash landed safely. 152 was fatal. 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.