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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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NTSB Report

November 29, 1992 · Cessna T210M · N784RF

Thornton, CA

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 29, 1992
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Location
Thornton, CA
Aircraft
Cessna T210M
Tail Number
N784RF
Operator
Franich Russell
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
LAX93FA055

After departure from Sacramento, the pilot of the C-210, N784RF, had declined further radar traffic advisories, and was climbing on about a 152 deg heading. The pilot had changed radio frequency, and was receiving weather advisories for his destination airport. The C-180, N3313D, was in cruise flight at 3,100 ft on about a 307 deg heading, and the pilot had just terminated his participation in receiving radar traffic advisories from the Stockton TRACON. The two airplanes collided near head-on about half way between two TRACON facilities. The right wing of the C-210 contacted the left wing of the C-180, and both wings separated about mid-span in about a 90-deg orientation from each other. Visibility was reported as 10 mi in haze. Other pilots reported that smoke limited visibility from 1 to 5 mi in the area. Both airplanes had Mode C altitude encoding, and both were depicted on radar prior to the collision.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS THE FAILURE OF THE SACRAMENTO CONTROLLER TO ADVISE THE STOCKTON CONTROLLER OF THE IMPENDING UNSAFE SITUATION, AND THE FAILURE OF THE STOCKTON CONTROLLER TO ISSUE A TRAFFIC ADVISORY AND A SAFETY ALERT TO THE PILOT OF THE C-180, N3313D.

Full Narrative

AFTER DEPARTURE FROM SACRAMENTO, THE PLT OF THE C-210, N784RF, HAD DECLINED FURTHER RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES, AND WAS CLIMBING ON ABOUT A 152 DEG HEADING. THE PILOT HAD CHANGED RADIO FREQ, AND WAS RECEIVING WEATHER ADVISORIES FOR HIS DESTINATION AIRPORT. THE C-180, N3313D, WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT 3,100 FT ON ABOUT A 307 DEG HEADING, AND THE PILOT HAD JUST TERMINATED HIS PARTICIPATION IN RECEIVING RADAR TRAFFIC ADVISORIES FROM THE STOCKTON TRACON. THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDED NEAR HEAD-ON ABOUT HALF WAY BETWEEN TWO TRACON FACILITIES. THE RIGHT WING OF THE C-210 CONTACTED THE LEFT WING OF THE C-180, AND BOTH WINGS SEPARATED ABOUT MID-SPAN IN ABOUT A 90-DEG ORIENTATION FROM EACH OTHER. VISIBILITY WAS REPORTED AS 10 MI IN HAZE. OTHER PILOTS REPORTED THAT SMOKE LIMITED VISIBILITY FROM 1 TO 5 MI IN THE AREA. BOTH AIRPLANES HAD MODE C ALTITUDE ENCODING, AND BOTH WERE DEPICTED ON RADAR PRIOR TO THE COLLISION.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:28 PST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionGrd

Aircraft

AircraftCessna T210M
Tail NumberN784RF
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFranich Russell
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · TSIO-540-R · Reciprocating · 310 | Continental · O-470-J · Reciprocating · 225
Seats6

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (5 fatalities)
Fatal5
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total5
Crew 1Age 39 · Third Class
Crew 2Age 37 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind300° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F / 39 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data