Incident Overview

Date: Thursday 29 June 1972
Aircraft Type: Convair CV-580
Owner/operator: North Central Airlines
Registration Number: N90858
Location: ca. 8 km S of Appleton, WI – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: Both flight crews.Both flight crews.
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A Convair CV-580 flight from Green Bay to Milwaukee and Chicago encountered a twin Otter turboprop plane in a collision over Lake Winnebago. The initial contact occurred at 10:35, with the crew stating a course of approximately seven northeast, two thousand five hundred, VFR. The collision resulted in both aircraft falling into the lake. The accident was reported under hazy sunlight conditions with a scattered cloud layer.A Convair CV-580 flight from Green Bay to Milwaukee and Chicago encountered a twin Otter turboprop plane in a collision over Lake Winnebago. The initial contact occurred at 10:35, with the crew stating a course of approximately seven northeast, two thousand five hundred, VFR. The collision resulted in both aircraft falling into the lake. The accident was reported under hazy sunlight conditions with a scattered cloud layer.

Description

North Central Flight 290, a Convair CV-580 departed Green Bay (GRB) at 10:30 for a flight to Oshkosh (OSH), Milwaukee (MKE) and Chicago. The aircraft climbed to 2,500 feet and proceeded on an approximate course to Oshkosh. At 10:35 the flight made its initial contact with Oshkosh tower stating, “…we’re about, seven northeast, two thousand five hundred, VFR.” The crew were cleared for a runway 27 landing at 10:36. At that same time, an Air Wisconsin Twin Otter turboprop plane was on its way from Sheboygan (SBM) to Appleton (ATW) at the same altitude. An in-flight collision occurred at 10:36:47 over Lake Winnebago, at an altitude of approximately 2,500 feet. Explosion and fire followed the and both aircraft fell into Lake Winnebago. The accident occurred in hazy sunlight below a scattered cloud layer. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The failure of both flight crews to detect visually the other aircraft in sufficient time to initiate evasive action. the Board is unable to determine why each crew failed to see and avoid the other aircraft; however, the Board believes that the ability of both crews to detect the other aircraft in time to avoid a collision was reduced because of the atmospheric conditions and human visual limitations.”

Primary Cause

Failure of both flight crews to detect visually the other aircraft in sufficient time to initiate evasive action, exacerbated by atmospheric conditions and human visual limitations.Failure of both flight crews to detect visually the other aircraft in sufficient time to initiate evasive action, exacerbated by atmospheric conditions and human visual limitations.

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