Looking for a See and Avoid NTSB report

[Ace Pilot]

I've been reading the book "Aftermath" by the editors of Flying
magazine. The book describes an accident that I'd like more
information on. It was a head-on midair that occurred in VMC between a
Piper Navajo and an Army U-21, just east of Kansas City, Missouri.
There was a single pilot in the Navajo and two pilots in the U-21. All
three were killed. The book does not give a date for when this
occurred. Based on post accident analysis, the book claims that the
Navajo pilot had 24 seconds to see and avoid the U-21, and the U-21
crew had 19 seconds to see and avoid the Navajo. The title of the
chapter in the book is "See and Avoid or Blind Faith?" and was written
by J. Mac McClellan.

I've tried a number of different searches on the NTSB web page and
can't find anything that comes close to this. Anyone know when this
occurred or how I can find the NTSB report on it? Thanks.

[Gene Seibel]

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001213X30061&key=1

NTSB Identification: DCA87MA020A.
The docket is stored on NTSB microfiche number 32628.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, January 20, 1987 in INDEPENDENCE, MO
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/12/1988
Aircraft: PIPER PA-31-350, registration: N60SE
Injuries: 6 Fatal.
THE TWO ACFT, A BEECH U-21A AND A PIPER PA-31-350, COLLIDED NEARLY
HEAD ON AT 7000 FT MSL OVER INDEPENDENCE, MO. IN DAYLIGHT VMC
CONDITIONS WITH A VISIBILITY OF 20 MILES. THE U-21 WAS IN LEVEL CRUISE
AND THE PA-31 WAS CLIMBING EASTBOUND TO AN UNDISCLOSED ALT ENROUTE TO
SAINT LOUIS. BOTH ACFT WERE EQUIPPED WITH OPERATING MODE-C
TRANSPONDERS BUT THE CONTROLLER IN CONTACT WITH THE U-21 DID NOT
OBSERVE THE CONFLICT AND TRAFFIC ADVISORIES WERE NOT PROVIDED. THE
PA-31 WAS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH VISUAL FLT RULES. THE U-21 WAS
OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH INSTRUMENT FLT RULES. AFTER THE COLLISION
BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION
THAT EITHER ACFT TOOK ANY EVASIVE ACTION. THE CONFLICT ALERT
SUBPROGRAM OF THE ARTS III TRACKING SYSTEM WAS NOT PROGRAMMED TO ALERT
THE CONTROLLERS TO THE IMPENDING COLLISION AND THE TWO CONTROLLERS DID
NOT OBSERVE ANY TARGET IN THE VICINITY OF THE DATA BLOCK REPRESENTING
THE U-21. (SEE NTSB/AAR-88/01).

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable
cause(s) of this accident as follows:

SAFETY SYSTEM(OTHER)..LACK OF
TRAFFIC ADVISORY..NOT ISSUED..ATC PERSONNEL(DEP/APCH)
VISUAL LOOKOUT..INADEQUATE..PILOT IN COMMAND
VISUAL LOOKOUT..INADEQUATE..PILOT OF OTHER AIRCRAFT
IDENTIFICATION OF AIRCRAFT ON RADAR..NOT PERFORMED..ATC
PERSONNEL(DEP/APCH)

Contributing Factors

MONITORING..INADEQUATE..ATC PERSONNEL(DEP/APCH)






(Ace Pilot) wrote in message >...
> I've been reading the book "Aftermath" by the editors of Flying
> magazine. The book describes an accident that I'd like more
> information on. It was a head-on midair that occurred in VMC between a
> Piper Navajo and an Army U-21, just east of Kansas City, Missouri.
> There was a single pilot in the Navajo and two pilots in the U-21. All
> three were killed. The book does not give a date for when this
> occurred. Based on post accident analysis, the book claims that the
> Navajo pilot had 24 seconds to see and avoid the U-21, and the U-21
> crew had 19 seconds to see and avoid the Navajo. The title of the
> chapter in the book is "See and Avoid or Blind Faith?" and was written
> by J. Mac McClellan.
>
> I've tried a number of different searches on the NTSB web page and
> can't find anything that comes close to this. Anyone know when this
> occurred or how I can find the NTSB report on it? Thanks.

[Ace Pilot]

That's the one. Thanks, Gene!