Cessna 180 N34AG
16 November 2003 · Westerly, Rhode Island, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 16 November 2003 at about 18:30 local time, a Cessna 180 registered N34AG was involved in an accident near Westerly, Rhode Island, United States. 5 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 18:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Westerly, Rhode Island, United States
- Nearest airport
- Westerly Airport (WST)
- Coordinates
- 41.3493, -71.8042
- Aircraft
- Cessna 180
- Registration
- N34AG
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Westerly → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC04FA033
People
2 people died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Probable cause
The Piper pilot's improper decision to continue a landing on an occupied runway, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the departing Cessna. Factors related to the accident were the departing Cessna pilot's inattentive radio communications, and the obscured visibility of the traffic pattern from the air and ground by trees located at the departure end of the runway.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the pilot of the Piper, when he arrived in the airport area, a landing attempt was made to the runway; however, because he was to high on the approach, the pilot elected to abort the landing. The pilot remained in the left-hand traffic pattern, and announced all of his positions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). The pilot added that trees obscured the threshold portion of the runway, and the taxiway leading to the runway as he flew the left-hand traffic pattern. Upon turning final approach to land the second time, the pilot observed a tail-wheeled airplane "about to get onto runway 32." The airplane remained on the runway, and the pilot thought it would remain there until after he landed. The pilot continued the approach, and soon after he passed over the runway threshold, he heard the sound of another airplane's engine, followed by an impact with the airplane. The pilot observed the other airplane descend towards the ground, as he performed a forced landing to the runway. The Piper touched down hard on the runway, collapsing the right main landing gear assembly, and came to rest upright on a taxiway. The Cessna came to rest in a nose down attitude off to the right side of the runway. The pilot of the Piper did not recall hearing the Cessna make any transmissions on the CTAF frequency, but did recall hearing other aircraft make transmissions. Examination of the approach end area of the runway revealed trees, which paralleled the taxiway leading up to runway 32, visually obscured aircraft flying left-hand traffic patterns for the runway. Traffic in the air was not visible to an individual facing southeast until the traffic turned onto final approach. According to the Aeronautical Information Manual, paragraph 4-1-9. Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without Operating Control Towers, "Pilots of departing aircraft should monitor/communicate on the appropriate frequency from start-up, during taxi, and until 10 miles from the airport..." According to Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.113, Right-of-way rules, "Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface...
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 180 | N34AG | - | Substantial |
| Piper PA-28-181 | N2885D | - | Minor |
Other Cessna 180 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Jun 2003 | Cessna 180 | Ogden, Utah, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 2003 | Cessna 180K | Starkville, Mississippi, United States | Nolan D. Palmer | No injuries | - |
| 26 Aug 2003 | Cessna 180 | Nenana, Alaska, United States | Dennis V. Schmit | No injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 2003 | Cessna 180 | Caldwell, Idaho, United States | Barr, Robert E. | No injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 2003 | Cessna 180K | St Charles, Missouri, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 10 Oct 2003 | Cessna 180 | McCarthy, Alaska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
All 2,729 records for this type
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Nov 2003 | Bell 206B | Cranston, Rhode Island, United States | Horsham Valley Airways | Minor injuries | - |
| 29 Aug 2003 | Piper PA-38-112 | Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 2003 | Beechcraft BE36 | Block Island, Rhode Island, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 2003 | Grumman American AA5B | Block Island, Rhode Island, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 1 Mar 2003 | Piper PA-28-235 | Westerly, Rhode Island, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 2003 | Cessna P206 | Newport, Rhode Island, United States | - | No injuries | - |