Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brooklyn, New York 11231
Friday, July 22, 1983 8:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A CESSNA U206G FLOAT PLANE, N5328X, & A BELL 206A POLICE HELICOPTER, N4797R, COLLIDED IN FLT OVER BROOKLYN, NY. THE AIRCREW OF THE POLICE HELICOPTER WERE ON A TRAFFIC OBSERVATION FLT & HAD JUST REPORTED TRAFFIC CONDITIONS IN THE VICINITY OF A TOLL STATION WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE FLOAT PLANE WAS ARRIVING ON AN AIR TAXI FLT TO THE WALL STREET AREA OF MANHATTAN, NY. A SURVIVING PASSENGER OF THE FLOAT PLANE SAID IT WAS IN A LEFT TURN WHEN SHE SAW THE HELICOPTER, JUST PRIOR TO THE MID-AIR COLLISION. THE HELICOPTER CRASHED THRU THE ROOF OF AN UNOCCUPIED GARAGE BUILDING. THE FLOAT PLANE MADE AN EMERGENCY DESCENT, WOBBLING SIDE-TO-SIDE, & CRASHED IN THE EAST RIVER. THE 2 REAR SEAT PASSENGERS EGRESSED BEFORE THE PLANE SANK. THE PLT & FRONT SEAT PASSENGER WERE INJURED & DROWNED. DIVER'S BELIEVED THAT NEITHER OF THE FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS WERE USING THEIR SHOULDER HARNESSES. THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT PASSENGER'S SHOULDER HARNESS WAS FOUND STOWED.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/22/1983
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 840
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City BROOKLYN
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 11231
Event Date Year 1983
Event Date Month 7
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 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 850 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 360
Weather Observation Facility ID TEB
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 9
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 25
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
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 4
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 6
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 3329
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 27904
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
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 N5328X N4797R
NTSB Number NYC83FA188A NYC83FA188B
Missing Aircraft Indicator N N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None Military VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage Destroyed Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name CESSNA BELL
Aircraft Model U206G 206A
Aircraft Series Identifier U206G 206A
Aircraft Serial Number U20605647 330
Certified Max Gross Weight 3500 3000
Aircraft Category Airplane Helicopter
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 6 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 18 1983 12:00AM May 15 1983 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20 62
Airframe Hours 1353 8563
ELT Installed Yes No
ELT Activated No Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name AMW CORPORATION CITY OF NY POLICE DEPT.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 25 BERGEN TURNPIKE NO. 1 POLICE PLAZA
Aircraft Owner City RIDGEFIELD NEW YORK
Aircraft Owner State NJ NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 07660 10007
Operator is an individual? -- --
Operator Name WATERFRONT AIRWAYS,INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No Yes
Operator Street Address 15 BERGEN TURNPIKE
Operator City RIDGEFIELD PARK
Operator State NJ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 07660
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder 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 Non-scheduled --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown Public Use
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City ATLANTIC HIGH BROOKLYN
Departure State NJ NY
Departure Country
Departure Time 0 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt -- dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City MANHATTAN
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:36AM Jan 2 2001 10:36AM
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 -- --