Cessna 152 and Cessna 182R mid-air collision near Fairbanks, Alaska, November 14, 2008
On November 14, 2008 at about 7:33 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N47417) and Cessna 182R (N9772H), were involved in a mid-air collision near Fairbanks, Alaska (Fairbanks International airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the instructor in the Cessna 152 to maintain separation from another landing airplane and his failure to follow the tower controller’s instructions.
The failure of the instructor pilot in the other airplane to maintain separation from the Cessna 182R, and his failure to follow the tower controller’s instructions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 14, 2008 · about 7:33 pm local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Fairbanks International · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N47417 · registry record · serial 15283224
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N9772H · registry record · serial 18268011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 152, with a certificated flight instructor (CFI) in the right seat and a student pilot in the left seat, was on the right downwind leg in preparation for landing in day visual meteorological conditions on an instructional flight. The Cessna 152 was behind a Cessna 182R that was on final approach. The Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) specialist asked the Cessna 152 pilots if they had the landing traffic in sight and the CFI said that they did. Review of radar data and radio communications from the ATCT revealed that the Cessna 152 joined the final approach course slightly behind and above the Cessna 182R. As the two airplanes continued toward the runway, the ATCT specialist issued instructions to the Cessna 152 to make a right 360-degree turn. According to the CFI, at about the same time the nose of the Cessna 182R appeared under his Cessna 152 and he applied full power and began a left climbing turn while advising ATCT of his actions. The left wingtip of the Cessna 152 collided with the top right side of the Cessna 182R’s rudder. The pilot of the Cessna 182R reportedly never saw the other airplane. Both airplanes landed without further incident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182R final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 152 airplane, with a certificated flight instructor (CFI) in the right seat, and a student pilot in the left seat, was on a right downwind for landing in day visual meteorological conditions at the conclusion of a Title 14, CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The Cessna 152 was number two to land behind a Cessna 182R that was on final approach. The Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) specialist asked the Cessna 152 pilots if they had the landing traffic in sight, and the CFI said they did. Review of radar plot data, and radio communications from the ATCT, revealed that the Cessna 152 joined the final approach course slightly behind and above the Cessna 182R. As the two airplanes continued toward the runway, the ATCT specialist issued instructions to the Cessna 152 to make a right 360 degree turn. According to the CFI, about the same time, the nose of the Cessna 182R appeared under his Cessna 152, and he applied full power and began a left climbing turn while advising ATCT of his actions. The left wingtip of the Cessna 152 collided with the top right side of the Cessna 182R’s rudder. The pilot of the Cessna 182R reportedly never saw the other airplane. Both airplanes landed without further incident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,320 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,200 as pilot in command; 792 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 18, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 11 hours in all; 11 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,731 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 12, 2008; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAFA Fairbanks AK at 6:30 pm
- Destination: PAFA Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19L, 11,800 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 10,000 ft
- Temperature: -2°F (-19°C), dew point -8°F (-22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PAFA, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 188 hours in all
- Last flight review: October 13, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Civil Air Patrol Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: PAEI Fairbanks AK at 7:15 pm
- Destination: PAFA Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 19L, 11,800 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC09LA011.