# NTSB CHI91LA043: Cessna 152, N48779, Joliet, IL, December 8, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 8, 1990, 13:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place: Joliet, IL
- Coordinates: 41.519084, -88.120208 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5191&lon=-88.1202&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 3 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 3, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14966
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI91LA043
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14966/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI91LA043

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, WHICH RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER'S AIRCRAFT.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Midair collision, cruise - normal
  - light condition - sunglare
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command
- Midair collision, cruise - normal
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

NEAR JOLIET, IL, A CESSNA 152 (N48779) WAS CRUISING ON A SOUTH-SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING AT 3000' MSL AT THE SAME TIME THAT A GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5A (N26686) WAS CRUISING ON AN EASTERLY HEADING AT THE SAME ALTITUDE.  THE 2 AIRCRAFT CONVERGED AND THE RIGHT WING OF THE AA-5A COLLIDED WITH THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF THE CESSNA.  THOUGH BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE DAMAGED, BOTH CONTINUED FLYING AND WERE LANDED FROM PRECAUTIONARY APPROACHES.  THE CESSNA PILOT SAID THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE OTHER AIRCRAFT EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER THE COLLISION.  HE SAID THE SUN WAS QUITE BRIGHT AND WAS FAIRLY LOW AT THAT TIME OF THE YEAR.  THE AA-5A PILOT SAW THE CESSNA MOMENTS BEFORE IMPACT AND TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION BY MANEUVERING HIS AIRCRAFT, BUT THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: [N48779](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N48779), registered now, S/N 15280963, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 152
- Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 15280963
- Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert G. William J. Bryan
- Departed: C18, FRANKFORT, IL
- Destination: C09, MORRIS, IL

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: N26686 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: GRUMMAN AMERICAN AA-5A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AA5A-0646
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2Z 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Lawrence J. Wagner
- Departed: LOT, ROMEOVILLE, IL
- Destination: C59, DELEVAN, WI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N48779; age 72; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 914 total, 860 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours
- Pilot, aircraft N26686; age 37; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 121 total, 112 in this make and model, 44 in the last 90 days, 23 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: -0 °F, dew point -0 °F

## FAA reports on this event (2)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19901208053291A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901208053291A), Dec 8, 1990: Cessna 152, Joliet, IL, Substantial damage. Inlevel flight collided with N26686 that had made evasive action prior to impact. Top portion tail bent and severed.
- [Accident 19901208053292A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19901208053292A), Dec 8, 1990: Gulstm AA5A, Joilet, IL, Substantial damage. Level flight saw N48779 at last minute. Tried evasive act ion but outer wing was cut open on impact.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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