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NTSB Report

August 20, 1995 · Cessna 172E · N5638T

Alpine, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 20, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (8 uninjured)
Location
Alpine, TX
Aircraft
Cessna 172E
Tail Number
N5638T
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW95LA352

THE CESSNA 172E, N5638T, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 19, AND THE PIPER PA-31T, N53AM, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 5. THEY COLLIDED AT A RUNWAY INTERSECTION DURING THEIR RESPECTIVE LANDING ROLLOUTS. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER UNTIL THEY CONVERGED. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY MADE VHF RADIO CALLS ON THE LOCAL UNICOM FREQUENCY (122.8) TO ANNOUNCE THEIR APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT. THE UNICOM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT RECALL HEARING A TRANSMISSION FROM THE CESSNA, BUT DID HEAR A TRANSMISSION FROM THE PIPER. A GROUND TEST OF THE VHF TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER IN THE CESSNA SHOWED THE RADIO TO BE INOPERATIVE.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. A FACTOR WAS THE CESSNA'S INOPERATIVE RADIO.

Full Narrative

On August 20, 1995, at 1551 central daylight time, a Cessna 172E, N5638T, collided with a Piper PA-31T, N53AM, during landing rollout at Casparis Municipal Airport, near Alpine, Texas. The occupants of the Cessna, a private pilot and 1 passenger, were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The occupants of the Piper, an airline transport pilot and 5 passengers, were not injured and the airplane sustained minor damage. Both airplane's were being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed for the Cessna during it's personal flight, and the Piper, on a corporate flight, had cancelled an IFR flight plan approximately 35 miles from the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for both flights. In an interview, the pilot of the Cessna reported that he attempted to obtain surface wind information on the Alpine Unicom frequency (122.8Mhz) as he approached the airport, but was unsuccessful. He further reported that he made "downwind" and "base leg" radio calls for landing on runway 19. Additionally, he reported that he "did not see any traffic" and proceeded to land on runway 19. During this time, the Piper was landing on runway 05. In a written statement, the pilot of the Piper reported that he contacted Unicom on 122.8Mhz, received an airport advisory, and transmitted that he would be "entering the pattern for runway 05." He further stated that he did not hear any "other radio traffic" on Unicom. After landing on runway 05, and approaching the intersection of runway 19, the pilot of the Piper "caught a glimpse of movement" and then saw a Cessna approaching on runway 19. The airplanes collided at the intersection of runway 05 and runway 19. The left wing strut of the Cessna and the left wing tip of the Piper made contact. The Cessna sustained structural damage to the left wing spar adjacent to the wing support strut. The Piper sustained minor damage to the left wing tip. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that he found the radio in Cessna to be inoperative during a ground test after the accident. Additionally, a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) employee, who was monitoring the Unicom frequency, stated that he did not hear any radio calls from the Cessna aircraft. The employee also reported that he did hear transmissions from the Piper. According to witnesses, the Piper landed just prior to the Cessna.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:51 CDT
Nearest AirportAlpine-Casparis (0nm)
Runway19
Runway Length6000 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 172E
Tail NumberN5638T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-300 · Reciprocating · 145 | P&W · PT-6 · Turboprop · 500
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (8 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured8
Total8
Crew 1Age 55 · Second Class
Crew 2Age 47 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data