# NTSB ERA25LA072: Piper PA28, N90874, Pahokee, FL, December 9, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 9, 2024, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Pahokee, FL - Coordinates: 26.795833, -80.6945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7958&lon=-80.6945&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250); [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 5 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199402 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA072 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199402/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199402 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA072 ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane, which resulted in a midair collision during short final approach. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Flight crew (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Flight crew (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Piper PA-28-181, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=7102807), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Cessna 172S, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=2072439), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The low-wing airplane and the high-wing airplane were both being operated as instructional flights. Both airplanes arrived from different airports and had completed several uneventful landings at the non-tower-controlled accident airport. The pilots of both airplanes reported that they were transmitting position reports and hearing transmissions on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency. Review of ADS-B data indicated that the low-wing airplane flew a wider left traffic pattern, and the high wing airplane flew a closer left traffic pattern before the airplanes converged on final approach, and the left wing of the high-wing airplane contacted the upper cabin of the low-wing airplane, resulting in substantial damage to both airplanes. The instructors onboard each airplane took control, and landed without further incident. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the failure of the pilots to see and avoid the other airplane while operating in the airport traffic pattern, which resulted in a midair collision. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On December 9, 2024, about 1630 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-28-181, N90874, and a Cessna 172S, N497SJ, were substantially damaged when they were involved in a midair collision near Pahokee, Florida. The flight instructor and student pilot onboard the Piper were not injured. The flight instructor, private pilot receiving instruction, and student pilot observer onboard the Cessna were also not injured. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flights. Both airplanes had previously completed multiple landings on runway 18 at Palm Beach County Glades Airport (PHK), Pahokee, Florida. The instructor onboard the low-wing Piper reported that, during final approach for a third landing, about 300 to 350 ft above ground level, he heard a “crunching metal noise” and realized that another airplane had collided with the cabin roof from above. He was able to continue and land on the runway. The instructor added that he had been making position reports in the traffic pattern on the airport’s common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). He remembered a Cessna making a “short approach” report during their previous traffic pattern, but he did not hear anything during the accident traffic pattern. The pilot and instructor onboard the high-wing Cessna reported that they had completed one full-stop and two touch-and-go landings. During the fourth approach, the student pilot in the rear seat yelled as he saw “something big” on the left side of the airplane. The pilot pulled back on the control yoke, but it was too late, as contact was already made. The instructor took control and landed uneventfully. The pilot and flight instructor stated that they completed position reports on the CTAF during all four approaches. They heard a transmission from a different airplane on the ground at PHK, but never heard from another airplane in the traffic pattern. Examination of the airplanes by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the cabin roof fuselage of the Piper and the outboard left wing of the Cessna. Review of ADS-B data revealed that the Piper flew a wider left traffic pattern and the Cessna flew a tighter left traffic pattern before the two airplanes converged on short final approach. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N90874](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90874), registered now, S/N 28-8690014, built 1985 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA28 (181) - Registry model: [Piper PA-28-181](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-28-181) (registry code 7102807) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 28-8690014 - Year built: 1985 - Airframe hours: 5427 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 181 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: SkyBlue Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 15, 2024, 71 hours before - Departed: F45, West Palm Beach, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PHK, Palm Beach County Glades Airport, runway 18, 4,116 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N497SJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N497SJ), registered now, S/N 172S8497, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172 (S) - Registry model: [Cessna 172S](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172s) (registry code 2072439) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (registry code 41559, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 172S8497 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 7678 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-L2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Fxe Flightcenter Corp - Registered owner: Fxe Flightcenter Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 27, 2024, 44 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor, aircraft N90874; age 22; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 23, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 398 total, 267 in this make and model, 273 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot, aircraft N90874; age 17; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model, 1 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N497SJ; age 20; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 18, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 252 total, 141 in this make and model, 157 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor, aircraft N497SJ; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 7, 2024; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 809 total, 761 in this make and model, 149 in the last 90 days, 44 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: 2IS, 20 nm away - METAR: K2IS 092135Z AUTO 14008KT 10SM CLR 26/15 A3010 RMK AO2 T02590154 ## 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 20241209020222A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241209020222A), Dec 9, 2024: Piper PA-28-181, Pahokee, FL, Substantial damage. NTSB accident no.: ERA25LA072A atqa: A-SO-19-25-010 sas ptrs no.: SO19202501497 task id:T-SO19-FY25-0294 registration: nxxxx make: Piper model: PA-28 serial… - [Accident 20241209020492A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241209020492A), Dec 9, 2024: Cessna 172S, Pahokee, FL, Minor damage. NTSB accident no.: ERA25LA072B atqa: A-SO-19-25-011 sas ptrs no.: SO19202501498 task id:T-SO19-FY25-0294 registration: nxxxx make: Cessna model: 172 serial… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199402. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (Cessna) (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18126054&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cessna%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot statements (Cessna) (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18127499&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Cessna%20Pilot%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (Piper) (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18128757&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Piper%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - ADS-B plots (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 477 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18129667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ADSB%20Plots-Rel.pdf - Piper ADS-B google earth file (item 5, KMZ, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18504210&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=Piper_ADSB-Rel.kmz - Cessna ADS-B google earth file (item 6, KMZ, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18504886&FileExtension=kmz&FileName=Cessna_ADSB-Rel.kmz - Investigation photographs (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 198 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18168707&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.