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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 14, 1993 · Grumman A6E · USN

Steptoe, WA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 14, 1993
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Location
Steptoe, WA
Aircraft
Grumman A6E
Tail Number
USN
Operator
United States Navy
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA93FA094

The A6E was tracking 033 degrees level at 200 feet above ground level (AGL) at 468 knots VFR in published route VR-1354. The AgCat was tracking 334 degrees level at 200 feet AGL at 96 knots VFR across the route to his destination spray field. The two aircraft converged on a 59 degree collision angle with a closure speed of 429 knots. 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 or publications regarding the operation of military aircraft in the area. The local FSS was in the habit of reporting the route 'hot' 24 hours a day rather than the precise schedule. The convergence angle of the A6E was 111 degrees (8 o'clock position and behind the AgCat's left wing). The convergence angle of the AgCat was 10 degrees. At the projected closure speed, the AgCat would have subtended an angle of 0.2 degrees 8.6 seconds before impact; the A6E 19.2 seconds.

NTSB Probable Cause

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.

Full Narrative

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.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:24 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftGrumman A6E
Tail NumberUSN
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorUnited States Navy
Engines2
Engine TypeTurbojet
Engine DetailsP&W · J52P-8B · Turbojet · 8700 | P&W · R-1340 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (2 serious injuries, 1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 31 · First Class
Crew 2Age 40 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility20 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 2500 ft
Temperature / Dew Point45 C / 37 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data