Byron Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Antioch, California 94509
Sunday, February 19, 2012 18:45 PST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The helicopter and airplane collided midair. Both aircraft sustained minimal damage during the impact but substantial damage during the subsequent forced landings. The airplane pilot was performing a local flight and was not in contact with air traffic control (ATC) before the collision. The helicopter pilot was receiving visual flight rules flight following services from ATC throughout the flight. The helicopter pilot transitioned between two ATC sectors before the accident. On multiple occasions, the controllers for each sector misidentified the last three digits of the helicopter’s call sign. Additionally, the controller in the accident sector issued a traffic advisory using the wrong call sign. Further, an aircraft with the same last three digits as the helicopter’s incorrect call sign made radio contact with the controller shortly before the collision, which increased the confusion. Audio data revealed that the air traffic controller provided multiple traffic advisories to the helicopter but did not issue an alternate or immediate course of action in accordance with ATC procedures despite the fact that the aircraft’s converging flightpaths had triggered the radar conflict alert system. Radar playback also revealed that, at that time, the controller was receiving a visual alert on the radar console. This alert was also observed by a controller in an adjacent approach sector who called the radar assist controller warning of the threat. The assist controller responded, “yeah, we’re givin’ him traffic.” A few seconds later, the radar targets merged. The helicopter pilot stated that she received and complied with the traffic advisories by performing a visual scan but that, based on her communications with the air traffic controller, she did not perceive the situation to be urgent. Radar data revealed that the helicopter descended 600 feet before the collision but that the pilot did not inform the air traffic controllers about the descent. Further, as the airplane got closer and the traffic advisories were issued, the helicopter pilot began turning north, which brought the helicopter directly into the path of the approaching airplane while simultaneously placing the airplane behind her immediate field of vision. Shortly after, she sighted a silhouette of the airplane and propeller at her 4-o’clock position. She performed an evasive maneuver to the left but then felt the helicopter being struck. Neither the airplane pilot nor the occupant observed another aircraft near the airplane before the collision. Although the airplane pilot was not receiving traffic advisories from ATC, it was still the pilot’s responsibility to maintain a proper visual lookout to avoid other aircraft in the area. The helicopter’s left navigation light was inoperative when tested after the accident; however, this most likely did not affect the outcome because the left side of the helicopter would not have been visible to the airplane pilot at any point during the flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft during cruise flight. Contributing to the accident was the failure of air traffic control personnel to issue the helicopter pilot with a prompt and appropriate alternate course of action upon receiving a conflict alert.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/19/2012
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1845
Event Time Zone Pacific Standard Time
Event City Antioch
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94509
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 380207N
Event Location Longitude 1214519W
Event Location Airport Byron
Event Location Nearest Airport ID C83
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 15
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 79
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1853 Pacific Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 290
Weather Observation Facility ID KLVK
Elevation of weather observation facility 400
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation PST
Lighting Conditions Night
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) 8
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.08
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KLVK 200253Z 29007KT 10SM CLR 08/03 A3008 RM
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32612
NTSB Notification Source FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 24 2014 7:10PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N7508Y N433JC
NTSB Number WPR12LA109A WPR12LA109B
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 ROBINSON HELICOPTER BEECH
Aircraft Model R22 BETA 35-A33
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 3757 CD-351
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370 3000
Aircraft Category Helicopter 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 2 4
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual Annual
Date of Last Inspection Feb 16 2012 12:00AM Dec 12 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10 9
Airframe Hours 3787 4830
ELT Installed No Yes
ELT Activated Unknown No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown Unknown
ELT Type -- C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name SPITZER MATTHEW DBA RONALD A GAWER
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City HAYWARD BRENTWOOD
Aircraft Owner State CA CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94542-1401 94513-5532
Operator is an individual? Yes Yes
Operator Name Tracy Zedeck RONALD A GAWER
Operator Same as Owner? No Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No Yes
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City Kensigton BRENTWOOD
Operator State CA CA
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code 94708-1040 94513-5532
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) Personal Personal
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code HWD C83
Departure City Hayward Byron
Departure State CA CA
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1815 1835
Departure Time Zone PST PST
Destination Same as Local Flt -- dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code SAC C83
Destination City Sacramento Byron
Destination State CA CA
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 24 2014 7:11PM Apr 24 2014 7:11PM
User who most recently changed record coos coos
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A N/A
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --