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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

August 29, 1982 · Cessna 150M · N9121U

Fairfield, NJ

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 29, 1982
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 minor injury)
Location
Fairfield, NJ
Aircraft
Cessna 150M
Tail Number
N9121U
Operator
Liberty Aviation
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
NYC82FA210

THE C-172 HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR AN OVERHEAD APPROACH TO ENTER A RIGHT DOWNWIND. THE PLT REPORTED OVERHEAD & ROGERED THAT HE SAW THE TRAFFIC COMING UP ON MIDFIELD. HE ALSO OKAYED THAT HE COULD FOLLOW THE TRAFFIC. HE WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO START HIS RIGHT TURN. THE TOWER THEN TRANSMITTED TO THE C-150 ON DOWNWIND "ON THE DOWNWIND WATCH THE TRAFFIC COMING IN FROM OVERHEAD SIR." THE C-150 & C-172 THEN COLLIDED. THE C-150 HAD BEEN PERFORMING TOUCH & GO LANDINGS. AFTER HIS THIRD DEPARTURE HE CLIMBED TO 700 FT, MADE A RIGHT 90 DEG TURN & CLIMBED TO 1,200 FT. THE ACFT WAS LEVELED & A RIGHT 90 DEG TURN TO DOWNWIND WAS MADE. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE ACFT ROLLED OUT. PUBLISHED TOWER CLIMB-OUT INSTRUCTIONS FOR RWY 22 IS A 20 DEG RIGHT TURN AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, CLIMB TO 1,000 FT MSL BEFORE ANY FURTHER TURNS. OF THE THREE CONTROLLERS IN THE TOWER, TWO WERE NOT FACILITY-RATED & WERE IN TRAINING. THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WAS CONGESTED WITH ACFT IN CLOSED PATTERNS.

Full Narrative

THE C-172 HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR AN OVERHEAD APPROACH TO ENTER A RIGHT DOWNWIND. THE PLT REPORTED OVERHEAD & ROGERED THAT HE SAW THE TRAFFIC COMING UP ON MIDFIELD. HE ALSO OKAYED THAT HE COULD FOLLOW THE TRAFFIC. HE WAS THEN INSTRUCTED TO START HIS RIGHT TURN. THE TOWER THEN TRANSMITTED TO THE C-150 ON DOWNWIND "ON THE DOWNWIND WATCH THE TRAFFIC COMING IN FROM OVERHEAD SIR." THE C-150 & C-172 THEN COLLIDED. THE C-150 HAD BEEN PERFORMING TOUCH & GO LANDINGS. AFTER HIS THIRD DEPARTURE HE CLIMBED TO 700 FT, MADE A RIGHT 90 DEG TURN & CLIMBED TO 1,200 FT. THE ACFT WAS LEVELED & A RIGHT 90 DEG TURN TO DOWNWIND WAS MADE. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE ACFT ROLLED OUT. PUBLISHED TOWER CLIMB-OUT INSTRUCTIONS FOR RWY 22 IS A 20 DEG RIGHT TURN AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE, CLIMB TO 1,000 FT MSL BEFORE ANY FURTHER TURNS. OF THE THREE CONTROLLERS IN THE TOWER, TWO WERE NOT FACILITY-RATED & WERE IN TRAINING. THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WAS CONGESTED WITH ACFT IN CLOSED PATTERNS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:20 EDT
Nearest AirportEssex County (0nm N)
Runway22
Runway Length4553 ft
Runway Width80 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150M
Tail NumberN9121U
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorLiberty Aviation
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200A · Reciprocating · 100 | Lycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (2 fatalities, 1 minor injury)
Fatal2
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 31 · Third Class
Crew 2Age 26 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 4 kt
Visibility25 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time08:45

Appendix: Source Data