FAA Employee's Airplane Was In Collision With Airplane Flown By NTSB Staffer

On May 28, 2012, at approximately 4:21 p.m. a Piper PA-28 and a Beechcraft BE-35 collided in flight about five miles from Warrenton-Fauquier Airport in Sumerduck, VA. Following the mid-air collision, the Piper PA-28 crash landed in a field and the BE-35 crashed in a wooded area.

Following the accident, investigators learned that the PA-28 was registered to an FAA employee and the BE-35 was registered to an NTSB employee.

Because both airplanes were owned and/or operated by NTSB and FAA employees, NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman, in consultation with FAA Acting Administrator Michael Huerta, requested that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) conduct this investigation.

"This accident hits especially close to home, with the involvement of an NTSB employee," said Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman. "I'm grateful to TSB-Canada Chair Wendy Tadros for agreeing to conduct the investigation and the NTSB stands ready to support and assist them in any way we can."

The owner and pilot of the PA-28, an FAA employee, survived the collision with injuries. An NTSB employee is the registered owner of the BE-35. The two occupants of the BE-35 were fatally injured. The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for making the proper identifications and death notifications. NTSB investigator Paul Cox will serve as the NTSB's Accredited Representative to the TSB investigation. The TSB's Media Relations will release all updates.

FMI: www.tsb.gc.ca, www.faa.gov, www.ntsb.gov