Accident Summary
At 0954:54, the pilot of a Piper PA-32RT, registration N39614, reported being 9 miles north and planning to land. The tower controller (north controller) instructed the pilot to plan for a right entry to runway 27R. At 0955:32, a student pilot and a certified flight instructor (CFI) in a Cessna 172N, registration N75584, were cleared for takeoff on runway 33 with a right turn out per noise abatement procedures. Approximately 2 minutes later, the PA-32 pilot reported turning downwind over a prominent landmark. The tower controller replied that the PA-32 was not in sight and cleared the pilot to land on runway 27R. No further radio transmissions were received from either aircraft.
The two aircraft collided nearly head-on at about 1000 feet MSL, approximately 1 mile north of the departure end of runway 33. The Cessna crashed into a PG&E facility and burned; a security guard at that facility was injured. The PA-32 crashed into a nearby bay.
Investigation Findings
Investigation revealed that tower personnel had not provided traffic advisory information to either aircraft. Additionally, the bright radar display was out of service for routine maintenance at the time of the accident. Airport personnel had posted signs around the airport detailing noise abatement procedures without FAA approval. These signs effectively reduced separation between departing and arriving aircraft. The FAA traffic manager did not order modification or removal of the signs when he learned of their presence.