ALPINE, TX, USA
N5638T
CESSNA 172E
N53AM
PIPER PA-31T
THE CESSNA 172E, N5638T, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 19, AND THE PIPER PA-31T, N53AM, HAD LANDED ON RUNWAY 5. THEY COLLIDED AT A RUNWAY INTERSECTION DURING THEIR RESPECTIVE LANDING ROLLOUTS. THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE EACH OTHER UNTIL THEY CONVERGED. BOTH PILOTS STATED THAT THEY MADE VHF RADIO CALLS ON THE LOCAL UNICOM FREQUENCY (122.8) TO ANNOUNCE THEIR APPROACHES TO THE AIRPORT. THE UNICOM RADIO OPERATOR REPORTED THAT HE DID NOT RECALL HEARING A TRANSMISSION FROM THE CESSNA, BUT DID HEAR A TRANSMISSION FROM THE PIPER. A GROUND TEST OF THE VHF TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER IN THE CESSNA SHOWED THE RADIO TO BE INOPERATIVE.
On August 20, 1995, at 1551 central daylight time, a Cessna 172E, N5638T, collided with a Piper PA-31T, N53AM, during landing rollout at Casparis Municipal Airport, near Alpine, Texas. The occupants of the Cessna, a private pilot and 1 passenger, were not injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The occupants of the Piper, an airline transport pilot and 5 passengers, were not injured and the airplane sustained minor damage. Both airplane's were being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was filed for the Cessna during it's personal flight, and the Piper, on a corporate flight, had cancelled an IFR flight plan approximately 35 miles from the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for both flights. In an interview, the pilot of the Cessna reported that he attempted to obtain surface wind information on the Alpine Unicom frequency (122.8Mhz) as he approached the airport, but was unsuccessful. He further reported that he made "downwind" and "base leg" radio calls for landing on runway 19. Additionally, he reported that he "did not see any traffic" and proceeded to land on runway 19. During this time, the Piper was landing on runway 05. In a written statement, the pilot of the Piper reported that he contacted Unicom on 122.8Mhz, received an airport advisory, and transmitted that he would be "entering the pattern for runway 05." He further stated that he did not hear any "other radio traffic" on Unicom. After landing on runway 05, and approaching the intersection of runway 19, the pilot of the Piper "caught a glimpse of movement" and then saw a Cessna approaching on runway 19. The airplanes collided at the intersection of runway 05 and runway 19. The left wing strut of the Cessna and the left wing tip of the Piper made contact. The Cessna sustained structural damage to the left wing spar adjacent to the wing support strut. The Piper sustained minor damage to the left wing tip. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that he found the radio in Cessna to be inoperative during a ground test after the accident. Additionally, a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) employee, who was monitoring the Unicom frequency, stated that he did not hear any radio calls from the Cessna aircraft. The employee also reported that he did hear transmissions from the Piper. According to witnesses, the Piper landed just prior to the Cessna.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. A FACTOR WAS THE CESSNA'S INOPERATIVE RADIO.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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