ALBUQUERQUE, NM, USA
N6999S
Cessna 150H
N7080Y
Stinson AT-19
The Stinson was performing a full stop approach to a landing to runway 35; his radio transmitter was inoperative. Another aircraft took the active in front of him and he performed a low level 360 degrees right hand turn, on final, for spacing. A Cessna, flying a left hand traffic pattern, impacted the Stinson on short final. The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual states that, unless otherwise indicated, all VFR traffic patterns are a rectangular box with left hand turns.
On August 11, 2000, approximately 0945 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 150H, N6999S, operated by a private individual, and a Stinson AT-19, N7080Y, operated by a private individual, collided on final approach to runway 35 at Coronado Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico. The commercial pilot of the Cessna, the sole occupant on the airplane, received minor injuries. The airline transport pilot of the Stinson, the sole occupant on the second airplane, received minor injuries. Both flights were being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both flights were local flights, and neither had filed a flight plan. The pilot of the Stinson said that he departed Coronado Airport at 0830 for local air-work and to practice landings at Double Eagle II Airport. He said that during the flight, his hand held transceiver's operating status became questionable; he continued to attempt transmissions. Witnesses reported not hearing any transmissions from the Stinson, and an FAA inspector reported that when he examined the radio after the accident, its battery was dead. The Stinson pilot told the FAA inspector that he flew one approach to a landing at Coronado Airport, but had to go around due to an airplane on the runway. The pilot said that he flew a second traffic pattern and again an airplane took the active runway in front of him. A witness observed the Stinson turn to the east, at 100 to 250 feet above the ground, and disappear for a short time period, and then reappear turning a right short final. Another witness reported that the Stinson performed a "low level 360 degree turn." The Stinson pilot did not report any deviations from a standard left traffic pattern. The pilot of the Cessna said that he departed Coronado Airport at 0845 for local air work. When he entered the traffic pattern for a full stop landing, witnesses reported that they heard the Cessna pilot transmit his position and intentions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). The pilot reported that while on final, he "settled" down onto the Stinson during the landing flare. During the subsequent impact, the Cessna's right wing, right wing strut, right main landing gear, nose landing gear, nose, propeller, and both wing tips were damaged. Paint transfer was found on the Cessna's wing and wing strut. The Stinson's empennage was nearly separated from its fuselage, the right main landing gear was separated from the fuselage, and both wing tips were damaged. The Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) states that, unless otherwise indicated, all VFR traffic patterns are a rectangular box with left hand turns. Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.113 and the AIM state that a VFR missed approach to a landing are flown down the runway or in such a manner so as not to fly over an airplane on the runway.
the failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout. A contributing factor was the pilot of the other aircraft not following recommended traffic pattern procedures.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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