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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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October 18, 1984 · Boeing VC-137B-BN · USAF

Seattle, WA

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Incident
Date
October 18, 1984
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (50 uninjured)
Location
Seattle, WA
Aircraft
Boeing VC-137B-BN
Tail Number
USAF
Injuries
None
NTSB Number
DCA85IA003

During arrival, a Boeing VC-137B-BN, USAF #58-6970, operating as Air Force 2 (AF-2), was cleared for a localizer back-course approach. At 1442:49, TRACON advised AF-2 of traffic at its 10 o'clock position at 2 mi, altitude unknown. At 1443:11, TRACON advised AF-2 the traffic had moved to its 11 o'clock position at 1-1/2 mi. AF-2 acknowledged both transmissions. At 1443:29, AF-2 advised that the flight was changing its frequency to Boeing Tower. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft commander of AF-2, seated in the right, saw the traffic, a Mooney M20C, N6507U, on a collision course. He took control and initiated evasive action. The pilot of N6507U was cruising at 2,500 ft outside the Seattle TCA and did not see AF-2, which had converged from his right rear area. The Mooney's #1 radio was inoperative and its #2 radio antenna had been vandalized, thus the pilot was not in radio contact with ATC. The last digit/wheel on his transponder was stuck on '5' and code 1205 was being transmitted. The transponder had no Mode 'C' altitude reporting capability. All of the backcourse approach was outside the TCA.

Full Narrative

DURING ARRIVAL, A BOEING VC-137B-BN, USAF #58-6970, OPERATING AS AIR FORCE 2 (AF-2), WAS CLEARED FOR A LOCALIZER BACK- COURSE APCH. AT 1442:49, TRACON ADVISED AF-2 OF TRAFFIC AT ITS 10 O'CLOCK POSITION AT 2 MI, ALT UNKN. AT 1443:11, TRACON ADVISED AF-2 THE TRAFFIC HAD MOVED TO ITS 11 O-CLOCK POSITION AT 1-1/2 MI. AF-2 ACKNOWLEDGED BOTH TRANSMISSIONS. AT 1443:29, AF-2 ADVISED THAT THE FLT WAS CHANGING ITS FREQ TO BOEING TOWER. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ACFT CMDR OF AF-2, SEATED IN THE RIGHT, SAW THE TRAFFIC, A MOONEY M20C, N6507U, ON A COLLISION COURSE. HE TOOK CONTROL & INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION. THE PLT OF N6507U WAS CRUISING AT 2,500 FT OUTSIDE THE SEATTLE TCA & DID NOT SEE AF-2, WHICH HAD CONVERGED FROM HIS RIGHT REAR AREA. THE MOONEY'S #1 RADIO WAS INOP & ITS #2 RADIO ANTENNA HAD BEEN VANDALIZED, THUS THE PLT WAS NOT IN RADIO CONTACT WITH ATC. THE LAST DIGIT/WHEEL ON HIS TRANSPONDER WAS STUCK ON '5' & CODE 1205 WAS BEING TRANSMITTED. THE TRANSPONDER HAD NO MODE 'C' ALT REPORTING CAPABILITY. ALL OF THE BACKCOURSE APCH WAS OUTSIDE THE TCA.

Flight

Event TypeIncident
Event Time14:45 PDT
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway31L
Runway Length10000 ft
Runway Width200 ft
Flight Plan FiledIFR
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBoeing VC-137B-BN
Tail NumberUSAF
Aircraft CategoryAir
Operating RulePart 91
Engines4
Engine TypeTurbofan
Engine DetailsP&W · TF-33 · Turbofan | Lycoming · O-360 · Reciprocating · 180
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (50 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured50
Total50
Crew 1Age 33 · First Class
Crew 2Age 54 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind60° @ 3 kt
Visibility15 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point55 / 37 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time21:48
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data