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NTSB Report
March 29, 1987 · Piper PA-23-250 · N5216Y
Dover, DE
Overview
Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 29, 1987
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (4 uninjured)
Location
Dover, DE
Aircraft
Piper PA-23-250
Tail Number
N5216Y
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
BFO87LA028
THE ROCKWELL WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 2800 FT AND THE PIPER WAS CLIMBING WHEN MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED. NEITHER ACFT WAS OPERATING UNDER ATC. NEITHER PLT SAW THE OTR AIRCRAFT BEFORE THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE BOTTOM OF THE ROCKWELL CABIN AND THE LEFT TIPTANK OF THE PIPER COLLIDED. THE COLLISION ANGLE BETWEEN THE ACFT WAS 60 DEGREES. THE ROCKWELL PILOT WAS ABLE TO PROCEED TO HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. THE LEFT TIP TANK OF THE PIPER SEPARATED FROM THE WING. THE PIPER PILOT, AS A PRECAUTION, SHUT DOWN THE LEFT ENGINE AND THEN DIVERTED THE FLIGHT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
Full Narrative
THE ROCKWELL WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT AT 2800 FT AND THE PIPER WAS CLIMBING WHEN MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED. NEITHER ACFT WAS OPERATING UNDER ATC. NEITHER PLT SAW THE OTR AIRCRAFT BEFORE THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE BOTTOM OF THE ROCKWELL CABIN AND THE LEFT TIPTANK OF THE PIPER COLLIDED. THE COLLISION ANGLE BETWEEN THE ACFT WAS 60 DEGREES. THE ROCKWELL PILOT WAS ABLE TO PROCEED TO HIS INTENDED DESTINATION. THE LEFT TIP TANK OF THE PIPER SEPARATED FROM THE WING. THE PIPER PILOT, AS A PRECAUTION, SHUT DOWN THE LEFT ENGINE AND THEN DIVERTED THE FLIGHT TO A NEARBY AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
Flight
Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:17 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo
Aircraft
AircraftPiper PA-23-250
Tail NumberN5216Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines2
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-540-A1DS · Reciprocating · 250 | Lycoming · IO-360-C1D6 · Reciprocating · 200
Seats6
People & Injuries
Injury SummaryNo injuries (4 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured4
Total4
Crew 1Age 59 · Third Class
Crew 2Age 42 · First Class
Conditions
ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 8 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point63 F / 48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time20:30
Weather SourceWFAC