Mooney M10 accident near Fairfield, NJ
On November 16, 2002, a Mooney M10 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Fairfield, NJ. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- November 16, 2002
- Place
- Fairfield, NJ
- Aircraft
- Mooney M10 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 40.875°N, 74.281°W
- NTSB ID
- 20021120X05496
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 15, 2002, at 1908 eastern standard time, a Mooney M10 (Cadet), N9502V, and a Piper PA-32R-300 (Lance), N216CL, were substantially damaged when they collided while maneuvering for an approach to Essex County Airport (CDW), Caldwell, New Jersey. The certificated private pilot in the Mooney, and the certificated private pilot in the Piper were fatally injured. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for either flight. The personal flights were conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to radar data and communication tapes from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Mooney had been conducting touch-and-go landings on runway 22 at CDW. The pilot of the Piper departed Alexandria Airport (N85), Pittstown, New Jersey, about 1830. At 1905, he established communication with the air traffic control tower (ATCT), and reported that he was about 7.5 miles west northwest of the airport, at 2,500 feet msl. The tower controller acknowledged the transmission, and instructed the pilot of the Piper to report a right downwind for runway 22. There were no further communications between the controller and the pilot of the Piper. Review of the radar data revealed that both accident airplane targets were depicted on the CDW tower non-standard D-Brite radar display. Prior to the collision, the Mooney had completed a go-around. The Mooney target displayed a transponder code of 1200, and flew an upwind leg for runway 22. Several seconds before the collision, the Mooney target was turning right toward a northeasterly direction
Probable cause
The inadequate visual lookout of both pilots. Factors in the accident were the FAA controller's failure to provide a traffic advisory, the improper decision among the three controllers to leave only one controller in the cab, and night conditions.
More accidents in NJ
- Piper PA-32R-300, Aug 8, 2009
- Bell 206L-4, Apr 10, 2025
- Socata TBM 700, Dec 20, 2011
- Cessna T337G, Feb 15, 2010
- Piper PA-28-236, May 31, 2006
Browse: New Jersey · Mooney aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
