Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Fairbanks, Alaska
Tuesady, June 14, 2011 13:10 AKD
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
An air traffic control operational error and near midair collision occurred between a Raytheon Beech 1900 and a Piper Navajo about 3.5 miles west of the airport. The Beech 1900 was northeast bound toward the airport descending to enter the traffic pattern for runway 20L, while the Piper had just departed from runway 20R and was climbing on a westbound heading. Both airplanes were operating under visual flight rules at the time of the incident, and were receiving air traffic control services from a tower air traffic controller. There were no reports of injuries or damage to either airplane.
The local controller, who had only been certified on the position for 5 weeks, stated that she was trying to establish vertical separation between the two airplanes by restricting the departing Navajo to remain at or below 2,000 feet. The Beech was still on the approach controller's frequency, so the local controller was not aware of what instructions had been issued to the pilot. The approach controller mistakenly believed that the Beech was in communication with the local controller. Neither the local controller nor the controller-in-charge, who was responsible for monitoring the operation and assisting the local controller, initiated any coordination with the approach controller to resolve the conflict.
NTSB review of local procedures and directives found that there was a misunderstanding of required procedures and controller responsibilities for operations in Terminal Radar Service Areas, including separation standards and procedures for transfer of communications between controllers.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
Inadequate air traffic control actions that failed to establish and maintain required separation between the two airplanes. Contributing to the incident was inexperience on the part of the local controller, inadequate oversight by the tower controller-in-charge, and deficient facility procedures and training.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Incident |
| Event Date | 6/14/2011 |
| Event Day of the Week | Tuesday |
| Time of Event | 1310 |
| Event Time Zone | -- |
| Event City | Fairbanks |
| Event State | ALASKA |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | -- |
| Event Date Year | 2011 |
| Event Date Month | 6 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| 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 | -- |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | -- |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | -- |
| Investigator's weather source | -- |
| Time of the weather observation | |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | -- |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | -- |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | -- |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | -- |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | -- |
| Lighting Conditions | -- |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | -- |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | -- |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | -- |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | -- |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | -- |
| Variable Wind Indicator | -- |
| Wind Speed (knots) | -- |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust (knots) | -- |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | -- |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | -- |
| Event Highest Injury | None |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | -- |
| Injury Total None | 12 |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | -- |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 29652 |
| NTSB Notification Source | ANC field office/FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | -- |
| NTSB Notification Time | -- |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 19 2012 12:36PM |
| User who most recently changed record | johb |
| Basic weather conditions | -- |
| FAA District Office | -- |
Aircraft Involved |
||
|---|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
Aircraft #2 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | -- | -- |
| NTSB Number | OPS11IA653A | OPS11IA653B |
| Missing Aircraft Indicator | -- | -- |
| Federal Aviation Reg. Part | -- | -- |
| Type of Flight Plan filed | VFR | VFR |
| Flight plan Was Activated? | -- | -- |
| Damage | None | None |
| Aircraft Fire | None | None |
| Aircraft Explosion | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name | BEECH | PIPER |
| Aircraft Model | 1900C | PA-31-350 |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | UC-78 | 31-8353006 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | -- | -- |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | No | No |
| Flight Crew Seats | -- | -- |
| Cabin Crew Seats | -- | -- |
| Passenger Seats | -- | -- |
| Total number of seats on the aircraft | 19 | 8 |
| Number of Engines | 2 | 2 |
| Fixed gear or retractable gear | Fixed | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | -- | -- |
| Date of Last Inspection | -- | -- |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | -- | -- |
| Airframe Hours | -- | -- |
| ELT Installed | Unknown | Unknown |
| ELT Activated | Unknown | Unknown |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | Unknown | Unknown |
| ELT Type | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | -- | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | PO BOX 61232 | 5500 YUKON CHARLIE LOOP |
| Aircraft Owner City | FAIRBANKS | ANCHORAGE |
| Aircraft Owner State | AK | AK |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 99706-1232 | 99502-4043 |
| Operator is an individual? | No | No |
| Operator Name | -- | -- |
| Operator Same as Owner? | No | No |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | No | No |
| Operator Street Address | -- | -- |
| Operator City | -- | -- |
| Operator State | -- | -- |
| Operator Country | USA | USA |
| Operator Zip code | -- | -- |
| Operator Code | WVBA | ERAA |
| 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 | -- | -- |
| Operator Certificate Number | WVBA620S | ERAA075A |
| Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not | Non-scheduled | Non-scheduled |
| Indicates Domestic or International Flight | Domestic | Domestic |
| Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail | Passenger Only | Passenger Only |
| Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) | -- | -- |
| Second Pilot on Board | Yes | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No | Yes |
| Departure Airport Code | -- | FAI |
| Departure City | -- | Fairbanks |
| Departure State | -- | AK |
| Departure Country | USA | USA |
| Departure Time | -- | -- |
| Departure Time Zone | -- | ADT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | crash at destination city | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | -- | -- |
| Destination City | Fairbanks | -- |
| Destination State | AK | -- |
| Destination Country | USA | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | -- | -- |
| Report sent to ICAO? | -- | -- |
| Evacuation occurred | -- | -- |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jan 25 2012 7:08PM | Mar 14 2012 2:17PM |
| User who most recently changed record | duns | johb |
| Since inspection or accident | -- | -- |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | -- | -- |
| Runway Length | -- | -- |
| Runway Width | -- | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No | No |
| Medical Flight | -- | -- |