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November 10, 1985 · Dassault Falcon 50 · N784B

Fairview, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 10, 1985
Injury Outcomes
5 injuries (5 fatalities), 3 unknown outcomes
Location
Fairview, NJ
Aircraft
Dassault Falcon 50
Tail Number
N784B
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
DCA86AA004

DASSAULT FALCON 50 (D50), N784B, WAS ON VOR/DME-A APCH AT DUSK TO CIRCLE/LND AT TETERBORO (TEB), AS PIPER PA-28, N1977H,WAS TRANSITING ARPT TRAFFIC AREA (ATA) FM WEST TO EAST AT 1500' IN VFR (NO FLT PLN). PA-28 PLT WAS CLRD THRU ATA BY TEB TWR (STAYING BLO TCA FLOOR AT 1800'). LCL CTLR (LC) WAS ALSO HANDLING SVRL OTR ACFT & RDO FREQ WAS CONGESTED. ARTS COM- PUTER DIDN'T ACQUIRE D50'S EARLY DEP FM MORRISTOWN. TRACON HAD COORDINATED D50 ARRIVAL WITH TEB TWR, BUT TWR COORDINATOR& CLNC DELIVERY CTLR FAILED TO SPECIFICALLY NOTIFY THE LC. LC WAS SURPRISED WHEN D50 CREW (ARRIVING AT A SOMEWHAT FAST SPEED) CONTACTED HIM. LC GAVE TRAFFIC INFO TO D50 CREW, BUT PROVIDED MISLEADING ADVISORY CONCERNING THE PA-28'S DRCTN OFFLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, D50 & PA-28 CONVERGED & COLLIDED AT EDGE OF ATA, 4.5 MI ESE OF ARPT. D50 CRASHED IN APARTMENT BLDG, KILLING 1 & INJURING 2. EVIDENCE OF BREAKDOWN IN ATC COORDINATION; ATC MANAGEMENT AT TEB FAILED TO RECOGNIZE & CORRECT OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS. BRITE RADAR AT TEB TWR DID NOT DISPLAY ALPHA-NUMERIC DATA OR RANGE MARKS.

Full Narrative

DASSAULT FALCON 50 (D50), N784B, WAS ON VOR/DME-A APCH AT DUSK TO CIRCLE/LND AT TETERBORO (TEB), AS PIPER PA-28, N1977H,WAS TRANSITING ARPT TRAFFIC AREA (ATA) FM WEST TO EAST AT 1500' IN VFR (NO FLT PLN). PA-28 PLT WAS CLRD THRU ATA BY TEB TWR (STAYING BLO TCA FLOOR AT 1800'). LCL CTLR (LC) WAS ALSO HANDLING SVRL OTR ACFT & RDO FREQ WAS CONGESTED. ARTS COM- PUTER DIDN'T ACQUIRE D50'S EARLY DEP FM MORRISTOWN. TRACON HAD COORDINATED D50 ARRIVAL WITH TEB TWR, BUT TWR COORDINATOR& CLNC DELIVERY CTLR FAILED TO SPECIFICALLY NOTIFY THE LC. LC WAS SURPRISED WHEN D50 CREW (ARRIVING AT A SOMEWHAT FAST SPEED) CONTACTED HIM. LC GAVE TRAFFIC INFO TO D50 CREW, BUT PROVIDED MISLEADING ADVISORY CONCERNING THE PA-28'S DRCTN OFFLT. SUBSEQUENTLY, D50 & PA-28 CONVERGED & COLLIDED AT EDGE OF ATA, 4.5 MI ESE OF ARPT. D50 CRASHED IN APARTMENT BLDG, KILLING 1 & INJURING 2. EVIDENCE OF BREAKDOWN IN ATC COORDINATION; ATC MANAGEMENT AT TEB FAILED TO RECOGNIZE & CORRECT OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS. BRITE RADAR AT TEB TWR DID NOT DISPLAY ALPHA-NUMERIC DATA OR RANGE MARKS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:22 EST
Nearest AirportTeterboro (5nm SSE)
Runway19
Runway Length7000 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireIflt
Aircraft ExplosionIflt

Aircraft

AircraftDassault Falcon 50
Tail NumberN784B
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines3
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsGarrett · TFE-731-3-1C · Turbofan · 3700 | Lycoming · O-360-A4M · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary5 injuries (5 fatalities), 3 unknown outcomes
Fatal5
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total8
Crew 1Age 37 · First Class
Crew 2Age 26 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
Wind220° @ 6 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 52
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time22:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data