Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Caddo Mills, Texas 75135
Wednesday, December 6, 1995 10:37 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of a high wing Cessna 182 (N3222S) was on a personal flight, checking a newly installed navigation and communication radio. Simultaneously, two pilots in a low wing Piper PA-28 (N4362D) were on an instrument instructional flight conducting basic instrument training. According to a witness, the Cessna 182 was flying in a westerly direction and the Piper PA-28 was flying in nearly the opposite direction, when the airplanes collided. During the collision, the left wings of the airplanes separated, and the airplanes entered uncontrolled descents, and crashed. The occupants of both airplanes were fatally injured. Flight Visibility in the area was limited by localized haze and smoke. Both airplanes were equipped with 2-way radio communication, but the aircrews were not monitoring a common frequency. Both airplanes were operating in class E airspace under visual flight rules. Both airplanes were transponder equipped, but neither was under Air traffic Control. Radar data showed the transponder of the westbound Cessna was operating on code 1200 at an altitude of 2,100 feet.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilot-in-command in each airplane to see-and-avoid conflicting traffic (inadequate visual lookout). The localized haze and smoke were related factors.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/6/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1037
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City CADDO MILLS
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75135
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Full
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 80
Weather Observation Facility ID GVT
Elevation of weather observation facility 535
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 3
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 2106
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 6 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1110
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:51PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N3222S N4362D
NTSB Number FTW96FA062A FTW96FA062B
Missing Aircraft Indicator N N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage Destroyed Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna Piper
Aircraft Model 182G PA-28-181
Aircraft Series Identifier 182G PA-28-181
Aircraft Serial Number 18255722 28-8590015
Certified Max Gross Weight 2800 2550
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4 4
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Dec 7 1994 12:00AM Oct 26 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30 81
Airframe Hours 2381 4667
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name EDWARD C. PIEPER REANEE SPRATT
Aircraft Owner Street Address 8202 COLUMBIA DRIVE 6121 BERSHIRE LANE, SUITE 206
Aircraft Owner City ROWLETT DALLAS
Aircraft Owner State TX TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75088 75225
Operator is an individual? -- --
Operator Name MONARCH AVIATION
Operator Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Street Address 4580 CLAIRE CHENNAULT
Operator City DALLAS
Operator State TX
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 75248
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown Unknown
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not -- --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight -- --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail -- --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal Instructional
Second Pilot on Board No Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code F46 ADS
Departure City ROCKWALL DALLAS
Departure State TX TX
Departure Country
Departure Time 1000 930
Departure Time Zone CST CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo dbo
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0 0
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --