# NTSB FTW84LA155: Cessna 152, N4861B, Durant, OK, March 2, 1984 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 2, 1984, 16:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Durant, OK - Coordinates: 33.980293, -96.390937 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9803&lon=-96.3909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/800) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 21275 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA155 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21275/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA155 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, other - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - judgment - poor, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, other - judgment - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - judgment - poor, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - lack of total experience, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) BEFORE TAKEOFF, A STUDENT & A COMMERCIAL PLT AGREED TO RENDEZVOUS & FLY FORMATION WHILE THE STUDENT TOOK PICTURES OF THE COMMERCIAL PLT'S ACFT. THE STUDENT WAS TO FLY A CESSNA 152, N4861B, WHILE THE COMMERCIAL PLT FLEW A CESSNA 150, N704V6. THEY PLANNED FOR THE STUDENT TO FLY STRAIGHT & LEVEL WHILE THE COMMERCIAL PLT FLEW AT POSITIONS AROUND THE STUDENT'S PLANE. ALSO, THEY AGREED TO COMMUNICATE ON VHF FREQ 122.9. AFTER DEPARTING THE ARPT, THE COMMERCIAL PLT JOINED (RENDEVOUSED) WITH THE STUDENT, BUT 2-WAY COMMUNICATION WAS NOT ESTABLISHED SINCE THE CESSNA 150 WOULD ONLY RECEIVED (NOT TRANSMIT) ON 122.9. HOWEVER, THEY CONTINUED WITH THEIR MISSION. WHILE ON AN EASTERLY HEADING IN FORMATION,THE COMMERCIAL PLT'S PLANE WAS ON THE LEFT & SLIGHTLY LOW, WHEN THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & THE WINGS COLLIDED. THE STUDENT'S PLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGE WHILE THE COMMERCIAL PLT'S ACFT HAD MINOR DAMAGE, BUT BOTH LANDED SAFELY. NEITHER PLT HAD PREVIOUS TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE WITH FORMATION FLT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) BEFORE TAKEOFF, A STUDENT & A COMMERCIAL PLT AGREED TO RENDEZVOUS & FLY FORMATION WHILE THE STUDENT TOOK PICTURES OF THE COMMERCIAL PLT'S ACFT. THE STUDENT WAS TO FLY A CESSNA 152, N4861B, WHILE THE COMMERCIAL PLT FLEW A CESSNA 150, N704V6. THEY PLANNED FOR THE STUDENT TO FLY STRAIGHT & LEVEL WHILE THE COMMERICAL PLT FLEW AT POSITIONS AROUND THE STUDENT'S PLANE. ALSO, THEY AGREED TO COMMUNICATE ON VHF FREQ 122.9. AFTER DEPARTING THE ARPT, THE COMMERICAL PLT JOINED (RENDEVOUSED) WITH THE STUDENT, BUT 2-WAY COMMUNICATION WAS NOT ESTABLISHED SINCE THE CESSNA 150 WOULD ONLY RECEIVE (NOT TRANSMIT) ON 122.9. HOWEVER, THEY CONTINUED WITH THEIR MISSION. WHILE ON AN EASTERLY HEADING IN FORMATION, THE COMMERCIAL PLT'S PLANE WAS ON THE LEFT & SLIGHTLY LOW, WHEN THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & THE WINGS COLLIDED. THE STUDENT'S PLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHILE THE COMMERCIAL PLT'S ACFT HAD MINOR DAMAGE, BUT BOTH LANDED SAFELY. NEIGHER PLT HAD PREVIOUS TRAINING OR EXPERIENCE WITH FORMATION FLT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N4861B (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15283679 - Airframe hours: 1808 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southeastern Foundation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 5, 1983 - Departed: DUA, DURANT, OK ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: N704VC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150M - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078900 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southeastern Foundation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: DUA, DURANT, OK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N4861B; age 19; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 32 total, 32 in this make and model, 13 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N704VC; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 267 total, 267 in this make and model, 230 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19840302026832A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840302026832A), Mar 2, 1984: Cessna 152, Durant, OK, Substantial damage. Wing tips collided during unauthorized formation flying to take pictures. Other aircraft N704VC overlapped wings. - [Accident 19840302026831A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840302026831A), Mar 2, 1984: Cessna 150M, Durant, OK, Minor damage. Wing tips collided during unauthorized picture taking formation flight. Came too close to N4861B. Wings overlapped 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.