The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas
Location: Weslaco, TX
Accident Number: CEN21LA040
Date & Time: November 3, 2020, 17:54 Local
Registration: N87715 (A1); N6463H (A2)
Aircraft: Piper J3C (A1); Piper J3C (A2)
Injuries: 1 Minor (A1); 1 Serious (A2)
Flight Conducted Under:
On November 3, 2020, about 1754 central standard time, two Piper J3C-65 airplanes, N87715 and N6463H, were substantially damaged during a midair collision accident near Weslaco, Texas. The student pilot flying N87715 was not injured, and the airline transport pilot flying N6463H sustained serious injuries. Both airplanes were operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights.
The pilot of N87715 reported that visual meteorological conditions prevailed during his local flight in the traffic pattern for runway 14 at Mid Valley Airport (TXW). He stated that on his third touch-and-go landing he made a normal wheel-landing and touched down about 1,000 ft from the approach end of the runway. After the tailwheel contacted the runway, he advanced the throttle to takeoff power and accelerated to liftoff speed. The pilot stated that the airplane became airborne about midfield and continued to climb over the runway. The pilot reported that the airplane’s ground track drifted to the right (west) while his attention was diverted to the cockpit instruments, and that his airplane collided with another airplane about 80 ft above the ground. The pilot reported that after the collision, he was unable to maintain control of the airplane and that both airplanes descended intermingled to the ground. The crash site was in a grass area located about 110 ft off the right side of runway 14.
The pilot of N6463H reported that he was operating in the airport traffic pattern for runway 14 with two other airplanes. He stated that after turning from base leg to the final approach he realized that his airplane was too close to the airplane ahead of him in the traffic pattern. The pilot decided to go-around and side-step to the right of runway 14 to ensure separation from the other airplane that had landed. The pilot reported that he maintained visual contact with the other airplane, keeping it at his 9-10 0’clock position and slightly below his position as he continued his go-around. The pilot stated that shortly after he shifted his gaze to the right side of his airplane, to assess if there were any additional impediments to his flight path, the other airplane “made an apparent right turn” and collided with his airplane. The pilot was unable to maintain control of his airplane and it descended to the ground intermingled with the other airplane.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A1)
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N87715
Model/Series: J3C 65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A2)
Aircraft Make: Piper
Registration: N6463H
Model/Series: J3C 65
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held:None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: TXW,70 ft msl
Observation Time: 17:55 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C /12°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 100°
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 11000 ft AGL
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.21 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:
Wreckage and Impact Information (A1)
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 26.178708,-97.974006
Wreckage and Impact Information (A2)
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 26.178708,-97.974006
Two planes in Weslaco collided into each other and crash landed at the Mid Valley Airport in Weslaco on Tuesday.
According to a tweet by the Weslaco Police Chief Joel Rivera, "At 5:54 p.m. today Weslaco Police Department and Weslaco Fire Department responded to a mid air collision at the Mid Valley Airport,' Rivera said in the tweet. " Two male pilots were transport to local hospitals."
Rivera said both pilots were conscious.
