# NTSB SEA93FA094: Grumman A6E, Steptoe, WA, April 14, 1993

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: April 14, 1993, 15:24 local (22:24 UTC)
- Place: Steptoe, WA
- Coordinates: 47.010784, -117.359893 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0108&lon=-117.3599&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report March 18, 1994
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Safety recommendations: Yes
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42938
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA93FA094
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42938/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA93FA094

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

THE INHERENT LIMITATIONS OF THE SEE-AND-AVOID CONCEPT OF SEPARATION OF AIRCRAFT OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES THAT PRECLUDED THE CREW OF THE A6E AND THE PILOT OF THE AGCAT FROM RECOGNIZING A COLLISION HAZARD AND TAKING ACTIONS TO AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISION.

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, maneuvering
  - visual separation - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual separation - not possible, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Midair collision, cruise
  - visual separation - not possible, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual separation - not possible, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

THE A6E WAS TRACKING 033 DEG LEVEL AT 200 FT AGL AT 468 KTS VFR IN PUBLISHED ROUTE VR-1354. THE AGCAT WAS TRACKING 334 DEG LEVEL AT 200 FT AGL AT 96 KTS VFR ACROSS THE ROUTE TO HIS DESTINATION SPRAY FIELD. THE TWO AIRCRAFT CONVERGED ON A 59 DEG COLLISION ANGLE WITH A CLOSURE SPEED OF 429 KTS. THE A6E NOTIFIED FSS THAT HE WAS ENTERING THE ROUTE LATE AND PROJECTED EXITING 8 MINUTES AFTER THE PUBLISHED CLOSURE OF THE ROUTE. THE AGCAT PILOT REPORTED HE WAS UNAWARE OF ANY INFORMATION/PUBLICATIONS REGARDING THE OPERATION OF MILITARY AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA. THE LOCAL FSS WAS IN THE HABIT OF REPORTING THE ROUTE 'HOT' 24 HRS A DAY RATHER THAN THE PRECISE SCHEDULE. THE CONVERGENCE ANGLE OF THE A6E WAS 111 DEG (8 O'CLOCK POSITION & BEHIND THE AGCAT'S LEFT WING). THE CONVERGENCE ANGLE OF THE AGCAT WAS 10 DEG. AT THE PROJECTED CLOSURE SPEED THE AGCAT WOULD HAVE SUBTENDED AN ANGLE OF 0.2 DEG 8.6 SECS BEFORE IMPACT; THE A6E 19.2 SECS.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: USN (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN A6E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 155665
- Airframe hours: 4784
- Engines: P&W J52P-8B 8700 lbs thrust turbo jet
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: In-Flight
- Flight: Armed forces
- Operator: United States Navy
- Registered owner: United States Navy
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, November 28, 1992, 131 hours before
- Departed: NUW, NAS WHIDBEY IS, WA
- Destination: NUW
- Flight plan: IFR

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N8630H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8630H-1998-06-12), registration cancelled 1998-06-12, S/N 1439 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Grumman-Schweizer G-164A
- Registry model: [Grumman Acft ENG Cor-Schweizer G-164A](https://openairdocs.org/model/grumman-acft-eng-cor-schweizer-g-164a) (registry code 3952801) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1439
- Airframe hours: 5014
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Fender, Darrell
- Registered owner: Fender, Darrell
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 1993, 94 hours before
- Departed: 0WA0, COLFAX, WA
- Destination: 0WA0

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft 1; age 31; commercial, military; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 2,814 total, 201 in this make and model, 93 in the last 90 days, 26 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N8630H; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,231 total, 1,460 in this make and model, 2,200 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PUW, 18 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 19930414017212A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19930414017212A), Apr 14, 1993: Scwzer G164A, Steptoe, WA, Destroyed. En route at 200 ft AGL to spray field was hit by USN age on 450 knot low altitude run. Not aware of DOD flights.

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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