# NTSB FTW89IA168: Cessna 152, N94808, Bethany, OK, September 15, 1989 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 1989, 17:25 local (22:25 UTC) - Place: Bethany, OK - Coordinates: 35.500267, -97.639549 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5003&lon=-97.6395&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1992 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 22802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW89IA168 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22802/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW89IA168 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) FAILURE OF THE CESSNA 150 PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE CESSNA 152 (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT), AND FAILURE OF THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH TRAFFIC DENSITY, WHICH RESULTED IN FREQUENCY CONGESTION, AND FAILURE OF THE CESSNA 150 PILOT TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED TRAFFIC PATTERN PROCEDURES. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) FAILURE OF THE CESSNA 150 PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE CESSNA 152 (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT), AND FAILURE OF THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH TRAFFIC DENSITY, WHICH RESULTED IN FREQUENCY CONGESTION, AND FAILURE OF THE CESSNA 150 PILOT TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED TRAFFIC PATTERN PROCEDURES. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - excessive workload (task overload), atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - control tower service - inadequate, atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (cause) - excessive workload (task overload), atc personnel(lcl/gnd/clnc) (contributing factor) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A MIDAIR COLLISION OF 2 ACFT OCCURRED AS THEY WERE ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 35L AT A CTLD ARPT. NUMEROUS INSTRUCTIONAL & NML ACFT OPNS WERE BEING CONDUCTED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. INITIALLY, THE PLTS OF BOTH ACT WERE IN CTC WITH THE LCL CTLR & BOTH HAD RCVD APPROVAL FOR CLOSED TFC. THE PLT OF 1 ACFT (CESSNA 152, N94808) RCVD CLNC FOR A TOUCH & GO LNDG. THE PLT OF THE OTR ACFT (CESSNA 150, N9347U) HAD NOT COMMUNICATED WITH THE TWR FOR ABT 2 MIN BEFORE THE INCIDENT. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE CESSNA 152 WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APCH & THE CESSNA 150 PLT MADE A CONTINOUS 180 DEG TURN FM DOWNWIND TO FINAL APCH. THE CESSNA 150 WAS RPRTD TO HAVE CONVERGED ON THE CESSNA 152 FROM ABOVE. DURING IMPACT, THE LNDG GEAR OF THE CESSNA 150 BROKE THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CESSNA 152. THE TWR CTLR DID NOT SEE THE COLLISION. WHEN SHE 1ST SIGHTED THE ACFT, THEY WERE SIDE-BY-SIDE. SHE THEN CLRD THE CESSNA 152 TO LAND & INSTRUCTED THE CESSNA 150 TO GO AROUND. SAMPLE OF CESSNA 150 PLT'S URINE (TAKEN NEXT DAY) SHOWED TRACE (72 NG/ML) OF CANNABINOID METABOLITE. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) A MIDAIR COLLISION OF 2 ACFT OCCURRED AS THEY WERE ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 35L AT A CTLD ARPT. NUMEROUS INSTRUCTIONAL & NML ACFT OPNS WERE BEING CONDUCTED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. INITIALLY, THE PLTS OF BOTH ACFT WERE IN CTC WITH THE LCL CTLR & BOTH HAD RCVD APPROVAL FOR CLOSED TFC. THE PLT OF 1 ACFT (CESSNA 152, N94808) RCVD CLNC FOR A TOUCH & GO LNDG. THE PLT OF THE OTR ACFT (CESSNA 150, N9347U) HAD NOT COMMUNICATED WITH THE TWR FOR ABT 2 MIN BEFORE THE INCIDENT. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE CESSNA 152 WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APCH & THE CESSNA 150 PLT MADE A CONTINUOUS 180 DEG TURN FM DOWNWIND TO FINAL APCH. THE CESSNA 150 WAS RPRTD TO HAVE CONVERGED ON THE CESSNA 152 FROM ABOVE. DURING IMPACT, THE LNDG GEAR OF THE CESSNA 150 BROKE THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CESSNA 152. THE TWR CTLR DID NOT SEE THE COLLISION. WHEN SHE 1ST SIGHTED THE ACFT, THEY WERE SIDE-BY-SIDE. SHE THEN CLRD THE CESSNA 152 TO LAND & INSTRUCTED THE CESSNA 150 TO GO AROUND. SAMPLE OF CESSNA 150 PLT'S URINE (TAKEN NEXT DAY) SHOWED TRACE (72 NG/ML) OF CANNABINOID METABOLITE. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N94808](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94808-2007-06-12), registration cancelled 2007-06-12, S/N 15285792, built 1983 (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: 15285792 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-N2C 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Abrams Aviation Inc. - Airport: PWA, Wiley Post, runway 35L, 3,232 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N9347U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9347U), registered now, S/N 15078296, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 150 - Registry model: [Cessna 150M](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-150m) (registry code 2071830) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15078296 - Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Flight Training Center Inc. - Departed: PWA - Destination: PWA - Airport: PWA, Wiley Post, runway 35L, 3,232 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N94808; age 41; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 25 total, 25 in this make and model, 10 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N9347U; age 29; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; toxicology performed; flight hours: 27 total, 27 in this make and model, 4 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 3 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PWA ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 19890915038002I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890915038002I), Sep 15, 1989: Cessna 152, Oklahoma City, OK, Minor damage. On final approach was struck from the rear and above by,N9347U, that made a circular final and not cleared to land. - [Incident 19890915038001I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890915038001I), Sep 15, 1989: Cessna 150M, Oklahoma City, OK, Minor damage. Turned u shaped pattern to final,overtook and hit a lower Cessna, N94808, on final. Both landed safe. Tower unaware 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.