Incident Overview
A Cessna 310 (N6744T) and a Beech A-36 (N51ML) collided in flight while both were approaching to land on runway 07 at Stuart Airport. The collision occurred in the traffic pattern. The Cessna 310 incurred minor damage but its pilot continued the approach and landed safely at Stuart. The pilot of the Beech A-36 terminated the approach and proceeded to North County Airport, where he landed without further incident. An examination of the Beech revealed that its left wing spar had been bent.
Sequence of Events
At 1433:30, the pilot of the Cessna 310, who had been on a right base for runway 7, verified at the request of the Stuart tower controller that it was the Cessna 310 turning final for runway 7. At 1433:33, the controller cleared the Cessna to land on runway 7.
Previously, the pilot of the Beech A-36 had requested and received clearance from the Palm Beach Arrival Radar North Controller to execute the global positioning system (GPS) instrument approach to runway 12 at Stuart. This procedure had been coordinated with the local tower controllers at Stuart. Shortly thereafter, the initial Palm Beach Approach controller was relieved. The relieving approach controller issued the Beech pilot a visual approach clearance to Stuart, along with a radio frequency communications handoff to the Stuart tower controller, which the pilot accepted. However, no follow-up coordination was conducted between the Palm Beach Approach controllers and the local tower controllers to advise that the Beech was no longer executing the GPS approach to runway 12. The Beech A-36 then proceeded inbound to Stuart, lining up with runway 7.
During this same time period, the local controller became engaged in a conversation about operations near the airport. This conversation, interspersed with other air traffic control instructions, limited communications contact while the Cessna 310 and Beech A-36 were proceeding inbound to the airport.
At 1433:58, the pilot of the Beech A-36 informed the local tower controller that he was on a 2-mile final for runway 7. The local tower controller responded that the Beech had been expected to execute the GPS approach to runway 12. Shortly thereafter, the two aircraft collided with each other in flight in the traffic pattern, while both were approaching to land on runway 07.
Aftermath
After the collision, the Cessna 310 continued its approach and landed safely at Stuart. The Beech A-36 terminated its approach and proceeded to North County Airport, where it landed without further incident. Examination of the Beech revealed that the left wing spar had been bent.