Tuesday, October 01, 2019

Collision During Takeoff / Landing: Diamond DA 20-C1, N397JA and Piper PA-28R-180, N3907T; accident occurred September 29, 2018 at Sebring Regional Airport (KSEF), Highlands County, Florida

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida

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

N397JA  Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

N397JA   Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

https://registry.faa.gov/N397JA

Location: Sebring, FL
Accident Number: ERA18LA268A
Date & Time: 09/29/2018, 1240 EDT
Registration: N397JA
Aircraft: DIAMOND DA20
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land
Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Instructional

On September 29, 2018, about 1240 eastern daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries, Inc. (Diamond) DA20-C1, N397JA, owned and operated by Aamro Aviation Corporation, and a privately owned and operated Piper PA28R-180, N3907T, collided at the Sebring Regional Airport (SEF), Sebring, Florida. There were no injuries to the flight instructor aboard the Diamond or the private pilot and passenger aboard the Piper, while the student pilot aboard the Diamond sustained a minor injury. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. The Diamond and Piper airplanes were being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight, and a personal flight, respectively. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and neither flight had filed a flight plan. The Diamond originated from SEF about 5 minutes earlier, while the Piper originated from the Peter O'Knight Airport (TPF), Tampa, Florida, about 1015.

The flight instructor of the Diamond reported that he and the student pilot were practicing touch and go landings on runway 14 at SEF, an uncontrolled airport, with the wind from the east. During the second traffic pattern while on the upwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, he noticed a Piper arriving from the west, heading east. As the student pilot turned onto the crosswind and downwind legs of the airport traffic pattern, they lost sight of the Piper, and at that point he did not know if the Piper was transitioning the area or intended to enter the airport traffic pattern. If the Piper was to remain in the airport traffic pattern, he assumed that the pilot would enter left traffic of the airport traffic pattern for runway 14 behind them. The student pilot announced the Diamond's position on every leg of the airport traffic pattern making left turns, but neither pilot heard the pilot of the Piper acknowledge. The Diamond turned onto the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern, and although the flight instructor was looking for the Piper, he did not see it. After landing on runway 14, the Diamond was configured for takeoff, and just as the student pilot advanced the throttle to full, the tail was contacted by the Piper's left wing.

The pilot of the Piper reported that he approached SEF from the northwest quadrant, and the first radio call he made on the SEF common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) was when the airplane was near the airport crossing midfield at 1,200 feet mean sea level (msl). He reported turning onto the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 19, which he announced, then turned onto the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern, which he also announced making left turns. He planned to touchdown at the 1,000-foot marker, and when flaring about 1 to 2 feet above runway 19, just before the collision, he noted a flash off his right wing. After the collision, he touched down, taxied onto taxiway A2, and secured the airplane.

Postaccident examination of the Diamond revealed the transceiver was set to 122.7 MHz (published CTAF); however, the transceiver of the Piper was set to 122.725 MHz. Operational testing of the transceiver in the Diamond revealed the transmissions were heard on a portable VHF transceiver, while transmissions from the Piper on the as-found frequency could not be heard. After switching to the published CTAF frequency, the transmissions were heard.

NTSB review of recorded LiveATC.net audio for SEF for the period 1230 to 1300 revealed radio calls from the Diamond were heard for every leg of the airport traffic pattern prior to the collision; however, only 2 radio calls attributed to be from the Piper were heard. Both radio calls from the Piper were garbled and difficult to comprehend.

Student Pilot Information

Certificate: Student
Age: 31, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/05/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  40 hours (Total, all aircraft), 35 hours (Total, this make and model), 8 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 7 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)

Flight Instructor Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 52, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: Yes
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 05/21/2018
Occupational Pilot:Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/06/2018
Flight Time:  698 hours (Total, all aircraft), 40 hours (Total, this make and model), 467 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: DIAMOND
Registration: N397JA
Model/Series: DA20 C1
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2003
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Utility
Serial Number: C0212
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/01/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1770 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2776.8 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: Installed
Engine Model/Series: IO-240-B32B
Registered Owner: Aamro Aviation Corporation
Rated Power: 125 hp
Operator: Aamro Aviation Corporation
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: SEF, 62 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1235 EDT
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3600 ft agl
Visibility:  
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 100°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 23°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Sebring, FL (SEF)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Sebring, FL (SEF)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1235 EDT
Type of Airspace: 

Airport Information

Airport: Sebring Regional Airport (SEF)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 62 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 14
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4990 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Touch and Go; Traffic Pattern

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor, 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 27.458611, -81.343056 (est)




N3907T  Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board:  https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

N3907T  Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

https://registry.faa.gov/N3907T

Location: Sebring, FL
Accident Number: ERA18LA268B
Date & Time: 09/29/2018, 1240 EDT
Registration: N3907T
Aircraft: PIPER PA28R
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Collision during takeoff/land
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On September 29, 2018, about 1240 eastern daylight time, a Diamond Aircraft Industries, Inc. (Diamond) DA20-C1, N397JA, owned and operated by Aamro Aviation Corporation, and a privately owned and operated Piper PA28R-180, N3907T, collided at the Sebring Regional Airport (SEF), Sebring, Florida. There were no injuries to the flight instructor aboard the Diamond or the private pilot and passenger aboard the Piper, while the student pilot aboard the Diamond sustained a minor injury. Both airplanes were substantially damaged. The Diamond and Piper airplanes were being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an instructional flight, and a personal flight, respectively. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and neither flight had filed a flight plan. The Diamond originated from SEF about 5 minutes earlier, while the Piper originated from the Peter O'Knight Airport (TPF), Tampa, Florida, about 1015.

The flight instructor of the Diamond reported that he and the student pilot were practicing touch and go landings on runway 14 at SEF, an uncontrolled airport, with the wind from the east. During the second traffic pattern while on the upwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, he noticed a Piper arriving from the west, heading east. As the student pilot turned onto the crosswind and downwind legs of the airport traffic pattern, they lost sight of the Piper, and at that point he did not know if the Piper was transitioning the area or intended to enter the airport traffic pattern. If the Piper was to remain in the airport traffic pattern, he assumed that the pilot would enter left traffic of the airport traffic pattern for runway 14 behind them. The student pilot announced the Diamond's position on every leg of the airport traffic pattern making left turns, but neither pilot heard the pilot of the Piper acknowledge. The Diamond turned onto the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern, and although the flight instructor was looking for the Piper, he did not see it. After landing on runway 14, the Diamond was configured for takeoff, and just as the student pilot advanced the throttle to full, the tail was contacted by the Piper's left wing.

The pilot of the Piper reported that he approached SEF from the northwest quadrant, and the first radio call he made on the SEF common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) was when the airplane was near the airport crossing midfield at 1,200 feet mean sea level (msl). He reported turning onto the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern for runway 19, which he announced, then turned onto the base and final legs of the airport traffic pattern, which he also announced making left turns. He planned to touchdown at the 1,000-foot marker, and when flaring about 1 to 2 feet above runway 19, just before the collision, he noted a flash off his right wing. After the collision, he touched down, taxied onto taxiway A2, and secured the airplane.

Postaccident examination of the Diamond revealed the transceiver was set to 122.7 MHz (published CTAF); however, the transceiver of the Piper was set to 122.725 MHz. Operational testing of the transceiver in the Diamond revealed the transmissions were heard on a portable VHF transceiver, while transmissions from the Piper on the as-found frequency could not be heard. After switching to the published CTAF frequency, the transmissions were heard.

NTSB review of recorded LiveATC.net audio for SEF for the period 1230 to 1300 revealed radio calls from the Diamond were heard for every leg of the airport traffic pattern prior to the collision; however, only 2 radio calls attributed to be from the Piper were heard. Both radio calls from the Piper were garbled and difficult to comprehend.



Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 79, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present:  No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam:08/31/2017 
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/01/2017
Flight Time: 1323 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1173 hours (Total, this make and model), 1246 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 13 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)



Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: PIPER
Registration: N3907T
Model/Series: PA28R 180
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1967
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 28R-30241
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/22/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2500 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 12 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 3817 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-B1E
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 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: SEF, 62 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1235 EDT
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3600 ft agl
Visibility:  
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 100°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.09 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C / 23°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Tampa, FL (TPF)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Sebring, FL (SEF)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1015 EDT
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: Sebring Regional Airport (SEF)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 62 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 19
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5234 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern

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: 27.458611, -81.343056 (est)

1 comment:

  1. Mistakes happen but you gotta make sure you're on the correct freq at all times. Glad it wasn't worse which it certainly could've been.

    ReplyDelete