Incident Overview
On an unspecified date, a Beechcraft D55 (BE-D55) and two fighter aircraft collided at approximately 9,500 feet mean sea level (MSL) roughly 30 miles south of Cherry Point. The BE-D55 had departed from Nassau but its pilot never activated the flight plan. Consequently, an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) penetration time was never established.
Sequence of Events
After the unidentified aircraft entered Warning Area W-122, the United States Air Force (USAF) contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Control (ATC) for identification information. Since the FAA was not controlling any traffic in that area, an intercept order was issued. At 1637, the FAA obtained a position report from the BE-D55 and relayed it to military control. However, the two fighter aircraft continued to close in on the target to establish radar contact. The lead fighter was to close to about 1,000 feet below the target at a preplanned closure rate of 50 knots, but the actual closure rate was 127 knots.
Seconds before the collision, the BE-D55 turned left as requested by FAA ATC, thereby turning into the path of the overtaking interceptor, which had also turned left to break off the intercept.
Investigation Findings
The safety board did not determine a probable cause for this collision but offered statements of cause. No further details regarding the cause were provided.