On November 10, 1985, a Dassault Falcon 50 executive jet belonging to Nabisco Brands Inc. and a Piper Cherokee collided over Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. Six people died in the accident: all five aboard both aircraft and one person on the ground; another eight were injured.
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | November 10, 1985 |
| Summary | Mid-air collision |
| Site | Teterboro, New Jersey 40°48′58″N 73°59′54″W / 40.81611°N 73.99833°W |
| Total fatalities | 6 |
| Total injuries | 8 (on the ground) |
| Total survivors | 0 (on planes) |
| First aircraft | |
 a Dassault Falcon 50 similar to the one involved in the accident | |
| Type | Dassault Falcon 50 |
| Operator | Nabisco Brands Inc. |
| Registration | N784B |
| Flight origin | Morristown Municipal Airport, Morris County, New Jersey |
| Destination | Teterboro Airport, Teterboro, New Jersey |
| Passengers | 0 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Second aircraft | |
 a Piper PA-28 similar to the one involved in the accident | |
| Type | Piper PA-28-181 Archer |
| Operator | Air Pegasus |
| Registration | N1977H |
| Passengers | 2 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 3 |
| Survivors | 0 |
| Ground casualties | |
| Ground fatalities | 1 |
| Ground injuries | 8 |
Accident
editAt approximately 5:22 p.m., the Dassault Falcon 50 and the Piper Cherokee collided as the jet approached for landing at Teterboro Airport and the Piper was flying over the airport on a west to east course. The Dassault was cleared for a standard instrument approach in visual meteorological conditions and made a left turn to position itself on the downwind leg to runway 19. The collision occurred at approximately 1,500 feet. The two aircraft fell into the residential areas of Fairview and Cliffside Park, New Jersey[1][2][3] and the subsequent impact of the aircraft into neighborhood buildings caused fires and panic.[3]
Events following the Crash
editDuring a news conference shortly after the accident, an official described the turn as an unusual course and speculated that the jet's pilot had previously reported a visual sighting of the Piper to the Teterboro tower just prior to the collision.[3]
On the night of the collision three bodies - the pilot of the Piper, Marlon J. Moss (26), and the bodies of Henry Nocha Sr. and his wife, Lucia - were recovered from aboard the Cherokee and taken to Bergen County Morgue.[3] Three further bodies were recovered amongst rubble during the day of the 11th, those of the pilots of the jet, Gregory L. Miller (37) and Alan K. Stitt (31), and the ground fatality Abdul Taha (34).[3][4]: 72
It was confirmed that two buildings had been leveled by the jet and subsequent outbreaks of fire had destroyed four more buildings before they could be put under control.[3]
Investigation
editThe National Transportation Safety Board investigation concluded the accident was caused by a breakdown in coordination among FAA air traffic controllers and the inability of the crew of the jet to see and avoid the other aircraft, because of misleading information from air traffic control and oncoming darkness.[5][4] The NTSB recommended that the FAA improve communication procedures among controllers and provide training for its personnel at Teterboro to qualify the airport for an upgrade to a radar approach control system.[6][7][8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "At Least 5 Killed As 2 Planes Collide Over Jersey". The New York Times. November 11, 1985.
- ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Dassault Falcon 50 N784B Teterboro Airport, NJ (TEB)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f McFadden, Robert D. (12 November 1985). "ROUTE OF JET IN CRASH OVER JERSEY THAT KILLED 6 IS CALLED 'UNUSUAL'". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- ^ a b "Midair Collision of Nabisco Brands, Inc., Dassault Falcon, DA50, N784B and Air Pegasus Corp., Piper Archer, N1977H, Fairview, New Jersey, November 10, 1985" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. 1987-05-04. NTSB/AAR-87/05. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
- ^ Witkin, Richard (March 18, 1987). "'85 Plane Crash Laid to Failure by Controllers". The New York Times.
- ^ "Safety Recommendation A-87-050". National Transportation Safety Board.
- ^ "Safety Recommendation" (PDF). National Transportation Safety Board. May 22, 1987. Retrieved June 15, 2018.
- ^ Goldman, John J. (1985-11-11). "Planes Collide in N.J.; 4 Killed, 8 Injured". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2019-03-10.