Incident Overview

Date: Saturday 4 December 1971
Aircraft Type: McDonnell Douglas DC-9-31
Owner/operator: Eastern Air Lines
Registration Number: N8943E
Location: Raleigh/Durham Airport, NC (RDU) – ÿ United States of America
Phase of Flight: Approach
Status: Minor, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 27
Component Affected: Landing gear of the DC-9Landing gear of the DC-9
Investigating Agency: NTSBNTSB
Category: Accident
A DC-9 and a Cessna Super Skywagon collided on the final approach to runway 05 at Raleigh-Durham Airport. The DC-9 landed safely with no injuries, while the Cessna crashed and burned, fatally injuring the pilot and only passenger. Due to communication limitations and physical proximity, the Cessna became permanently affixed to the landing gear of the DC-9, resulting in a significant impact.A DC-9 and a Cessna Super Skywagon collided on the final approach to runway 05 at Raleigh-Durham Airport. The DC-9 landed safely with no injuries, while the Cessna crashed and burned, fatally injuring the pilot and only passenger. Due to communication limitations and physical proximity, the Cessna became permanently affixed to the landing gear of the DC-9, resulting in a significant impact.

Description

An Eastern Air Lines DC-9, N8943E, and a Cessna U206 Super Skywagon, N2110F, collided in flight on the final approach to runway 05, Raleigh-Durham Airport, North Carolina. Both aircraft were in communication with the Tower Control. The DC-9 landed safely with no injuries to the 23 passengers and four crewmembers. The Cessna crashed and burned on the airport. The pilot and the only passenger in the Cessna were fatally injured. As a result of the collision, the Cessna became affixed to the landing gear of the DC-9. Both aircraft were aligned along their longitudinal axis with the main landing gear of the DC-9 impaled in the trailing edges of the wings of the Cessna. The Cessna was transported in this manner for several miles before it fell free and impacted in a near-vertical attitude on the airport. PROBABLE CAUSE: “The inadequacy of air traffic control facilities and services in flightpaths of the two aircraft and the configurations physically limited each flightcrew’s ability to see and avoid the other aircraft.” PROBABLE CAUSE: “The inadequacy of air traffic control facilities and services in flightpaths of the two aircraft and the configurations physically limited each flightcrew’s ability to see and avoid the other aircraft.”

Primary Cause

Inadequate air traffic control facilities and services in flightpaths of the two aircraft and the configurations physically limited each flightcrew’s ability to see and avoid the other aircraft.Inadequate air traffic control facilities and services in flightpaths of the two aircraft and the configurations physically limited each flightcrew’s ability to see and avoid the other aircraft.

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