Event Details


Title:Near Midair Collision, Vicinity of Front Royal, Virginia, Northwest Airlines, Boeing 720B, N736US, Lockheed Aircraft Corporation, Convair 240, N737Z, April 26, 1972
Micro summary:Evasive maneuvers by this Boeing 720B saves the day in this potential midair with a Convair 240.
Event Time:1972-04-26 at 1635 EST
File Name:1972-04-26-US.pdf
Publishing Agency:National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Publishing Country:USA
Report number:NTSB-AAR-72-30
Pages:16
Site of event:Descent (NWA); Cruise (Lockheed) 8600' 8 miles west of Front Royal, VA
First AirplaneSecond Airplane
Departure:Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington, USABradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, USA
Destination:Washington Dulles International Airport, Washington DC, USADobbins Air Reserve Base (Atlanta NAS), Marietta, Georgia, USA
Airplane Type(s):Boeing 720BConvair 240
Flight Phase:DescentCruise
Registration(s):N736USN737Z
Operator(s):Northwest AirlinesLockheed Aircraft Corporation
Type of flight:RevenueRevenue
Occupants:
Fatalities:
Serious Injuries:
Minor/Non-Injured:
Other Injuries:
Executive Summary:Northwest Airlines scheduled passenger Flight 78, a Boeing 720B, N736US, took evasive action to avoid colliding with a Lockheed Aircraft Corporation Convair 240, N737Z. The incident took place at approximately 8,600 feet, 8 miles west of Front Royal, Virginia, at 1635 EST, April 26, 1972.

Two Northwest Airlines stewardesses required medical attention for minor injuries.

There was no damage to either aircraft, and they both continued to their respective scheduled destinations.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this incident was the lack of visual scanning vigilance on the part of both flightcrews to provide safe in-flight separation
while operating in VER flight conditions.

The Safety Board recommends that the Federal Aviation Administration:

1. Undertake an educational program to impress on pilots that when flying on an CTR clearance in WR conditions, separation from VFR traffic is not being provided and any traffic information issued by a controller is only a supplement to visual scanning by the crew.

2. Emphasize to the Washington ARTCC the importance of complying with the "keep-'en-high" program outlined in FAA Advisory Circular AC 90-59, dated February 28, 1972.
Learning Keywords:Operations - Airspace - Air Proximity
Operations - Airspace - Air Traffic Control
Operations - Airspace - See & avoid

 




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