Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Spokane, Washington 99211
Wednesday, December 18, 1996 8:05 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The solo student pilot of the Beech 77, N6043M, was practicing ground reference maneuvers about 1,500 feet above the ground, and the pilot of a Cessna 182R, N5949E, was climbing out after takeoff. The student pilot had just completed a turn to the south, when the Cessna collided with it from the right front as the Cessna was climbing from the southeast. The right main landing gear of the Cessna struck the leading edge of the Beech's right horizontal stabilizer and crushed it aftward and upward. Half of the Cessna's right main landing gear, and all of the Beech's right elevator separated in flight. Both airplanes landed safely back at the departure airport. The Cessna pilot stated that he was programming his cockpit GPS receiver at the time of the collision.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid each other. A factor contributing to the accident was the Cessna's pilot diverted attention.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/18/1996
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 805
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City SPOKANE
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99211
Event Date Year 1996
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 Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 756 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID GEG
Elevation of weather observation facility 2372
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 15
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -9
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -10
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 3
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1656
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 18 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 840
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:30AM
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 N6043M N5949E
NTSB Number SEA97LA038A SEA97LA038B
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 Substantial Minor
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beech Cessna
Aircraft Model BE-77 182R
Aircraft Series Identifier BE-77 182R
Aircraft Serial Number WA-18 18268340
Certified Max Gross Weight 1675 3100
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 2 4
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 22 1996 12:00AM Sep 18 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 103 43
Airframe Hours 2975 4846
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name BLUE SKY FLYING CLUB, INC. FELTS FIELD AVIATION, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3523 EAST TARA DRIVE P.O. BOX 11877
Aircraft Owner City SPOKANE SPOKANE
Aircraft Owner State WA WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99223 99211
Operator is an individual? -- --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code GFVA
Owner has at least one certificate None Yes - certificate holder
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) Instructional Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code SFF SFF
Departure City SPOKANE SPOKANE
Departure State WA WA
Departure Country
Departure Time 800 800
Departure Time Zone PST PST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere --
Destination Airport Code SZT
Destination City SAND POINT
Destination State ID
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
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 -- --