Midair Collision Between Convair and Orion During Approach at Moffett AFB (157332)

Incident Overview On an unspecified date, a midair collision occurred involving a NASA Convair CV-990-30A-5 registered N711NA and an Orion aircraft. The Convair was returning to Moffett AFB after a test flight over Monterey Bay, carrying eight scientists and a crew of three. The Orion was conducting a local training flight with a crew of six on board. Both aircraft were on approach when the incident occurred, with the Convair initially cleared to land on runway 32R while seven miles out. The Orion's crew informed air traffic control that it was joining the runway 32L approach path. Subsequently, the controller cleared the Convair to land on runway 32L. At an altitude of approximately 300 feet, the nose gear of the Convair struck the top of the Orion's tail. Both aircraft lost control and crashed in flames on a Sunnyvale golf course, approximately 0.3 miles short of the runway threshold. One crew member from the Orion was seriously injured, while all 16 other occupants across both aircraft were killed. ## Probable Cause The official investigation determined that the collision resulted from several errors by the approach controller. The controller initially cleared the Convair for runway 32R and the Orion for runway 32L. After the Orion confirmed it was joining the 32L approach, the controller cleared the Convair for the same runway. The Convair crew did not question this change, and neither crew was able to see and avoid the other aircraft.