Investigation Summary
The collision occurred in hazy conditions with approximately 4 miles of visibility. Piedmont Flight 22 was cleared for an unrestricted climb to the Asheville VOR after takeoff. Simultaneously, the Cessna 310 (N3121S) was cleared to the Asheville radio beacon via the VOR. While the Boeing 727 was climbing through 6,000 feet, the Cessna pilot reported passing the VOR, but his actual position was miles away from where he should have been if following the clearance. The Cessna struck the 727 just aft of the cockpit on the left side. The investigation revealed that the Cessna pilot had reported a heading that was inconsistent with his clearance, a detail that went uncorrected by the approach controller. The 727, carrying high-profile passengers including John T. McNaughton, plummeted into a wooded area at Camp Pinewood, while the Cessna was fragmented by the impact.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB determined the probable cause was the Cessna pilot's deviation from his IFR clearance for unknown reasons, which placed the aircraft in the path of the Boeing 727. A contributing factor was the FAA's minimum control procedures in handling the Cessna. A 2006 review of the case, prompted by petitions regarding potential conflicts of interest and overlooked cockpit distractions (a small fire in a 727 ashtray), ultimately upheld the original findings.
Video Analysis
Piedmont Airlines Flight 22 — A detailed look at the 1967 mid-air collision over Hendersonville, North Carolina, involving a Boeing 727 and a Cessna 310.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Piedmont Airlines PI22 — Boeing 727-22 · N68650
Crew Experience
Captain
Raymond F. Schulte, age 49
First Officer
Thomas C. Conrad, age 30
Pilot
John D. Addison, age 48
Systems & Failure Modes
VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range)
The primary navigational aid used by both aircraft to define their flight paths and reporting points.
IFR (Instrument Flight Rules)
The set of regulations under which both aircraft were operating, requiring separation to be provided by Air Traffic Control.
Interesting Facts
- 01This was the first major accident investigation conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
- 02The collision killed John T. McNaughton, who was slated to become the U.S. Secretary of the Navy.
- 03The Boeing 727 crashed vertically and inverted into Camp Pinewood, a summer camp for children.
- 04The Cessna pilot had over 10,000 hours of flight experience.
- 05The two aircraft were in contact with the same tower but on different radio frequencies.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Air Traffic Control Procedure Review
Source ↗The NTSB recommended improvements in the coordination and minimum control procedures used by FAA controllers when handling multiple IFR aircraft in terminal areas.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
Alleged Conflict of Interest
Reference ↗In 2005, a petition was filed claiming the original NTSB lead investigator was the brother of a Piedmont Airlines vice president, potentially biasing the report against the Cessna pilot.
Cockpit Distraction Theory
Reference ↗Historians pointed to a transcript suggesting the Piedmont crew was distracted by a small fire in a cockpit ashtray in the seconds before the collision, a detail omitted from the final report.