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April 8, 1987 · De Havilland DHC-7-102 · N42RA

Wrightstown, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
April 8, 1987
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 15 uninjured
Location
Wrightstown, NJ
Aircraft
De Havilland DHC-7-102
Tail Number
N42RA
Operator
Pan Am Express
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Minor
NTSB Number
NYC87IA118

RANSOM FLT 444 (DHC-7) RPRTD A NEAR COLLISION WITH USAF C-141 (GLEEK 41) AS FLT 444 WAS AT 5000' & GLEEK 41 WAS CLBG TO 7500' FM A COMBAT AIRCREW TRAINING (CAT) MNVR. FLT 444 WAS UNDER IFR CTL OF MCGUIRE AFB RAPCON; GLEEK 41 WAS VFR, RCVG RADAR ADZYS FM RAPCON. THE DHC-7 CREW RPRTD THE CAMOUFLAGED C-141 BLENDED WITH THE BACKGROUND. AS THEY MNVRD TO AVOID A COLLISION, THE F/A & 1 PAX WERE INJURED. THE C-141 CAT MNVR (FM RWY 36 AT MCGUIRE) SIMULATED VFR APCH & DEP FM A HOSTILEARPT ENVIRONMENT. TO STAY IN THE ALLOCATED AIRSPACE, GLEEK 41 SHOULD HAVE MADE A LEFT CLBG DEP. THE RAPCON CTLR LACKED FAMILIARITY WITH THE CAT MNVR, BUT APPROVED A CLB TO 7500'. HE NOTED FLT 444 WAS COMING FM THE WEST, SO GAVE A TRAFFIC ADZY & TOLD GLEEK 41 TO TURN RGT TO 090 DEG. BY THAT TIME, GLEEK 41 WAS WELL IN A LEFT TURN, CLBG ABT 3000'/MIN. ANOTHERTRAFFIC ADZY WAS GIVEN & GLEEK 41 WAS TOLD TO LVL AT 4500', BUT IT RCHD ABT 5000' & CONVERGED WITH FLT 444 BFR ASCENT WAS ARRESTED. THE RAPCON RADAR (GPN-12/PIDP) DIDN'T HAVE CONFLICT ALERT FUNCTION. THE C-141 CREW DIDN'T SEE THE DHC-7.

Full Narrative

RANSOM FLT 444 (DHC-7) RPRTD A NEAR COLLISION WITH USAF C-141 (GLEEK 41) AS FLT 444 WAS AT 5000' & GLEEK 41 WAS CLBG TO 7500' FM A COMBAT AIRCREW TRAINING (CAT) MNVR. FLT 444 WAS UNDER IFR CTL OF MCGUIRE AFB RAPCON; GLEEK 41 WAS VFR, RCVG RADAR ADZYS FM RAPCON. THE DHC-7 CREW RPRTD THE CAMOUFLAGED C-141 BLENDED WITH THE BACKGROUND. AS THEY MNVRD TO AVOID A COLLISION, THE F/A & 1 PAX WERE INJURED. THE C-141 CAT MNVR (FM RWY 36 AT MCGUIRE) SIMULATED VFR APCH & DEP FM A HOSTILEARPT ENVIRONMENT. TO STAY IN THE ALLOCATED AIRSPACE, GLEEK 41 SHOULD HAVE MADE A LEFT CLBG DEP. THE RAPCON CTLR LACKED FAMILIARITY WITH THE CAT MNVR, BUT APPROVED A CLB TO 7500'. HE NOTED FLT 444 WAS COMING FM THE WEST, SO GAVE A TRAFFIC ADZY & TOLD GLEEK 41 TO TURN RGT TO 090 DEG. BY THAT TIME, GLEEK 41 WAS WELL IN A LEFT TURN, CLBG ABT 3000'/MIN. ANOTHERTRAFFIC ADZY WAS GIVEN & GLEEK 41 WAS TOLD TO LVL AT 4500', BUT IT RCHD ABT 5000' & CONVERGED WITH FLT 444 BFR ASCENT WAS ARRESTED. THE RAPCON RADAR (GPN-12/PIDP) DIDN'T HAVE CONFLICT ALERT FUNCTION. THE C-141 CREW DIDN'T SEE THE DHC-7.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time10:31 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftDe Havilland DHC-7-102
Tail NumberN42RA
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageMinor
OperatorPan Am Express
Operating RulePart 121
Engines4
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-50 · Turboprop · 1174 | P&W · TF33-P-7 · Turbofan · 21000
Seats52

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 minor injuries), 15 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor2
Uninjured15
Total17
Crew 1Age 40 · First Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind350° @ 7 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data