Accident Convair T-29D (CV-240) 52-5826, Thursday 9 January 1975

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Date:	Thursday 9 January 1975
Time:	18:36
Type:	Convair T-29D (CV-240)
Owner/operator:	United States Air Force - USAF
Registration:	52-5826
MSN:	52-25
Year of manufacture:	1954
Total airframe hrs:	14473 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-2800-99W
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
Other fatalities:	2
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed, written off
Category:	Accident
Location:	6,5 km W off Newport News, VA - United States of America
Phase:	Approach
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Meridian-Key Field, MS (MEI/KMEI)
Destination airport:	Hampton-Langley AFB, VA (LFI/KLFI)
Investigating agency:	NTSB

Narrative:
A USAF Convair T-29D (52-5826) was returning from Meridian when it approached Langley AFB at night. At the same time a Cavalier Flyers Cessna 150H light aircraft, N50430, was in the area. Both aircraft were on a collision course but due to the reduced nighttime conspicuity of Cessna against a background of city lights, the USAF crew did not see the plane. Both aircraft collided at 1500 feet and crashed.

PROBABLE CAUSE: "The human limitation inherent in the see-and-avoid concept, which can be critical in a terminal area with a combination of controlled and uncontrolled traffic. A possible contributing factor was the reduced nighttime conspicuity of the Cessna against a background of city lights."

Accident investigation: