Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pohatcong, New Jersey 08804
Saturday, November 5, 2005 11:38 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A high wing Cessna 172 airplane was in level flight about 1,800 feet msl, when it and a descending amateur built Zodiac airplane collided. Neither pilot was communicating with any air traffic control facility. Reported visibility was 10 miles, with high, scattered clouds. The Cessna pilot survived the collision with minor injuries, and was able to make a successful forced landing. The Zodiac pilot was fatally injured following an uncontrolled descent. According to radar and GPS derived track data, the Cessna was heading approximately north-northeast, and the Zodiac was in a shallow, 150 feet per minute descent, heading southeast. Witness marks and damage to both airplanes are consistent with the right wing of the Zodiac descending and crossing in front of the Cessna from about the Cessna's ten o'clock position, and colliding with the Cessna's propeller, cowling, and engine. FAA regulation 91.113, states, in part: "...vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to see and avoid other aircraft."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadequate visual lookout of the pilots in both airplanes, which resulted in a midair collision during cruise flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/5/2005
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1138
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Pohatcong
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 08804
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 404014N
Event Location Longitude 0750827W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1151 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 225
Weather Observation Facility ID ABE
Elevation of weather observation facility 394
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 16
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 20
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.03
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21354
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date Nov 5 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 25 2007 2:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Allentown, PA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N7467T N6384E
NTSB Number NYC06FA025A NYC06FA025B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? No No
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna Joseph E. Crosby
Aircraft Model 172A Zodiac CH 601HDS
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 47067 64008
Certified Max Gross Weight 2200 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No Yes
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2005 12:00AM Jun 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- 35.8
Airframe Hours 3532 204.9
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name Sport Aviation All Media Associates
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City Erwinna Port Washington
Aircraft Owner State PA NY
Aircraft Owner Country -- USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 18920 11050
Operator is an individual? No No
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 -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? -- --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation -- --
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 Personal
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code N91 N85
Departure City Erwinna Pittstown
Departure State PA NJ
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1105 947
Departure Time Zone EST EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code N91 N85
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 Aug 11 2008 12:27PM Mar 20 2007 9:28PM
User who most recently changed record JOHB MUZD
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA NA
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --