ATL96LA055

NTSB accident investigation · Cessna 152 · Arlington, TN · February 24, 1996

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
February 24, 1996, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Arlington, TN
Injuries
3 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N151FCCessna 152N63434Cessna 150
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 25, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
Case key
3697

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 150, N63434, to see and avoid the Cessna 152, N151FC.

the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 150, N63434, to see and avoid the Cessna 152, N151FC.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Midair collisionLanding
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot of other aircraftCause
Midair collisionLanding
Visual lookout - inadequatePilot in commandCause
Occurrence

Analysis

According to the flight instructor on board the Cessna 152, N151FC, while in the traffic pattern , the student pilot radioed their landing intentions over the UNICOM frequency. The pilot of the Cessna 150, N63434, stated that he recalled hearing the radio transmissions and was aware of the Cessna 152. The Cessna 150 pilot also stated that he believed that both airplanes entered the traffic pattern at approximately the same time but the Cessna 152 was at a lower altitude. The collision occurred about two feet above the runway when the Cessna 150 landed on top of the Cessna 152.

According to the flight instructor on board the Cessna 152, N151FC, while in the traffic pattern , the student pilot radioed their landing intentions over the UNICOM frequency. The pilot of the Cessna 150, N63434, stated that he recalled hearing the radio transmissions and was aware of the Cessna 152. The Cessna 150 pilot also stated that he believed that both airplanes entered the traffic pattern at approximately the same time but the Cessna 152 was at a lower altitude. The collision occurred about two feet above the runway when the Cessna 150 landed on top of the Cessna 152.

Factual narrative

See ATL96LA055A for the factual narrative.

On February 24, 1996, at 1400 central standard time, a Cessna 152, N151FC, and a Cessna 150, N63434, collided inflight over runway 33 while both airplanes were attempting to land at Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Tennessee. The Cessna 152 instructional flight, and the Cessna 150 pleasure flight were operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plans filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage, and there were no injuries in either airplane. The Cessna 152 departed Olive Branch, Mississippi, at 1300 hours. The Cessna 150 departed Arlington, Tennessee, at 1330 hours.

After flying several minutes, the Cessna 150 pilot, entered the traffic pattern for Arlington Municipal Airport. According to the flight instructor in the Cessna 152, while in the traffic pattern at Arlington, the student pilot radioed their landing intentions over the UNICOM frequency. The pilot of the Cessna 150 stated that he recalled hearing the radio transmissions from the Cessna 152, and was aware of the Cessna 152. The Cessna 150 pilot also stated that he believed that the Cessna 152 was at a lower pattern altitude and he never established visual contact with the Cessna 152.

As the Cessna 152 started the flare to touchdown, the pilot noticed that the nose attitude became steeper and attempts to control the left yawing tendency of the airplane failed. After the collision, the airplane continued the left yaw and rotated 180 degrees to a 140 degree magnetic heading. Examination of the aircraft disclosed that Cessna 150 collided with the vertical fin and the aft portion of the left wing assembly of the Cessna 152.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N151FC
Reported as
Cessna 152
Category
Airplane
Serial number
152284200
Engine
Lycoming O-235-N2C, 108 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Operator
Douglas Aviation
Registered owner
H.S. Spillars
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
Departed
OLV · Olive Branch, MS
Airport
LHC · Arlington Municipal, runway 33, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N63434
Reported as
Cessna 150
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1577310
Airframe hours
1,509
Engine
Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
John R. Wilkerson
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · January 29, 1996
Departed
LHC
Airport
LHC · Arlington Municipal, runway 33, 3,800 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N151FC
Age
39
Certificates
Flight instructor, Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Right
Flight hours
1,402 total · 434 in this make and model · 1,259 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Role
Pilot, aircraft N63434
Age
71
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
639 total · 331 in this make and model · 560 as pilot in command · 2 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
90° at 8 knots
Visibility
20 statute miles
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 25 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
MEM, 38 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.