Saturday, March 16, 2019

Cessna 182Q Skylane, N199RN, registered to Western Flying Club Inc and operated by the pilot -and- Piper J3C-65, N25786, registered to Grecor LLC and operated by the pilot: Accident occurred December 16, 2017 near Burlington–Alamance Regional Airport (KBUY), Burlington, Alamance County, North Carolina

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Greensboro, North Carolina

N199RN Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms 
 
http://registry.faa.gov/N199RN


Location: Burlington, NC
Accident Number: ERA18LA055A
Date & Time: 12/16/2017, 1230 EST
Registration: N199RN
Aircraft: CESSNA 182
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Midair collision
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On December 16, 2017, about 1230 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182Q, N199RN, and a Piper J3C-65, N25786, collided in midair near Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport (BUY), Burlington, North Carolina. The private pilot of the Cessna and the commercial pilot of the Piper were not injured. The Cessna and the Piper both sustained substantial damage. Both flights were conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 as personal flights. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plans were filed for either flight. The flights originated at BUY about 1220.

The Piper pilot reported that he had recently performed maintenance on the smoke generator system and installed a new fuel pump. Prior to the flight, he asked the Cessna pilot to fly adjacent to him to verify the smoke system operation. After departure, the Piper pilot flew on the right side of the Cessna and both pilots acknowledged each other visually. The Piper pilot turned on the smoke system and the Cessna pilot verified that it operated normally with a "thumbs up" signal. The Piper pilot then broke off to the right to leave the formation.

The Piper pilot subsequently elected to fly inverted to check the oil system and mixture control. After clearing for traffic and tightening his harness, he rolled inverted. The systems operated normally, so he rolled again to level the airplane upright. During the return to level flight, he heard a loud noise and the airplane rolled to the right. He believed that he had experienced aileron flutter. He was able to control the airplane and returned to BUY and landed without further incident. It was after landing that he realized that he had collided with the Cessna.

The Cessna pilot reported that, after checking the smoke system on the Piper and giving a thumbs up signal, the Cessna pilot climbed and disappeared from view due to the high wing on the Cessna. Subsequently, while still in straight and level flight, he observed a flash of yellow at his 9 o'clock position, which was the Piper in a descent. He reported that the Piper struck his left wing. He was able to maintain airplane control and returned to BUY for landing.

An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration examined both airplanes. The right wing and aileron of the Piper were structurally damaged, as was the outboard portion of the Cessna's left wing. Numerous paint transfer marks were noted on both airplanes. No other damage was noted.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 31, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/25/2013
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/26/2016
Flight Time:  353 hours (Total, all aircraft), 11 hours (Total, this make and model), 353 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 20 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CESSNA
Registration: N199RN
Model/Series: 182 Q
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1977
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 18266079
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection:  Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2348 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-470 SERIES
Registered Owner: WESTERN FLYING CLUB INC
Rated Power: 230 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: BUY, 616 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1754 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 270°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 250°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.2 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / -5°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Burlington, NC (BUY)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Burlington, NC (BUY)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1220 EST
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Burlington Alamance Regional (BUY)
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 616 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude:  36.049722, -79.473056 (est)

http://registry.faa.gov/N25786

N25786 Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Location: Burlington, NC
Accident Number: ERA18LA055B
Date & Time: 12/16/2017, 1230 EST
Registration: N25786
Aircraft: PIPER J3C
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Midair collision
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On December 16, 2017, about 1230 eastern standard time, a Cessna 182Q, N199RN, and a Piper J3C-65, N25786, collided in midair near Burlington-Alamance Regional Airport (BUY), Burlington, North Carolina. The private pilot of the Cessna and the commercial pilot of the Piper were not injured. The Cessna and the Piper both sustained substantial damage. Both flights were conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations part 91 as personal flights. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plans were filed for either flight. The flights originated at BUY about 1220.

The Piper pilot reported that he had recently performed maintenance on the smoke generator system and installed a new fuel pump. Prior to the flight, he asked the Cessna pilot to fly adjacent to him to verify the smoke system operation. After departure, the Piper pilot flew on the right side of the Cessna and both pilots acknowledged each other visually. The Piper pilot turned on the smoke system and the Cessna pilot verified that it operated normally with a "thumbs up" signal. The Piper pilot then broke off to the right to leave the formation.

The Piper pilot subsequently elected to fly inverted to check the oil system and mixture control. After clearing for traffic and tightening his harness, he rolled inverted. The systems operated normally, so he rolled again to level the airplane upright. During the return to level flight, he heard a loud noise and the airplane rolled to the right. He believed that he had experienced aileron flutter. He was able to control the airplane and returned to BUY and landed without further incident. It was after landing that he realized that he had collided with the Cessna.

The Cessna pilot reported that, after checking the smoke system on the Piper and giving a thumbs up signal, the Cessna pilot climbed and disappeared from view due to the high wing on the Cessna. Subsequently, while still in straight and level flight, he observed a flash of yellow at his 9 o'clock position, which was the Piper in a descent. He reported that the Piper struck his left wing. He was able to maintain airplane control and returned to BUY for landing.

An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration examined both airplanes. The right wing and aileron of the Piper were structurally damaged, as was the outboard portion of the Cessna's left wing. Numerous paint transfer marks were noted on both airplanes. No other damage was noted.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 45, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/31/2016
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 2500 hours (Total, all aircraft), 500 hours (Total, this make and model) 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N25786
Model/Series: J3C 65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1939
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 3740
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/20/2017, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1320 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 45 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2096 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: CONT MOTOR
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: O-200 Exp
Registered Owner: GRECOR LLC
Rated Power: 100 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: BUY, 616 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1754 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 270°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 250°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.2 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 9°C / -5°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Burlington, NC (BUY)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Burlington, NC (BUY)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1220 EST
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Burlington Alamance Regional (BUY)
Runway Surface Type:
Airport Elevation: 616 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  36.049722, -79.473056 (est)

1 comment:

  1. These two pilots should start playing the Powerball as they are two of the luckiest people on the planet!

    ReplyDelete