Cessna 152 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Anchorage, Alaska, April 25, 1984
On April 25, 1984 at about 4:50 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N45928) and Cessna 152 (N6479L), were involved in a mid-air collision near Anchorage, Alaska (Merrill airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 1984 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Anchorage, Alaska · Merrill · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N45928 · registry record · serial 15282945
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N6479L · no longer on the register · serial 15284411
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PLT IN A CESSNA 152, N45928, WAS INBOUND TO LAND ON RWY 33 AT MERRILL FIELD AT THE SAME TIME THAT ANOTHER STUDENT PLT IN CESSNA 152, N6479L, WAS DEPARTING FROM RWT 15. THE STUDENT IN N6479L WAS CLEARED FOR A 'CITY HIGH' DEPARTURE. AFTER TAKING OFF, HE TURNED EASTBOUND & CONVERGED WITH N45928 WHICH WAS ON A WESTERLY HEADING. N45928 HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ENTER TRAFFIC TO LAND ON RWT 33. TOWER PERSONNEL ADVISED EACH PLT OF THE OTHER'S POSITION; HOWEVER, NEITHER PLT SAW THE OTHER ACFT UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO COLLIDING. THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF N6479L HIT THE LOWER FUSELAGE OF N45928. BOTH ACFT LANDED SAFELY; BUT THE PLT OF N6479L HAD SOME DIFFICULTY SINCE THE RUDDER HAD BECOME JAMMED.
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 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A STUDENT PLT IN A CESSNA 152, N45928, WAS INBOUND TO LAND ON RWY 33 AT MERRILL FIELD AT THE SAME TIME THAT ANOTHER STUDENT PLT IN CESSNA 152, N6479L, WAS DEPARTING FROM RWT 15. THE STUDENT IN N6479L WAS CLEARED FOR A 'CITY HIGH' DEPARTURE. AFTER TAKING OFF, HE TURNED EASTBOUND & CONVERGED WITH N45928 WHICH WAS ON A WESTERLY HEADING. N45928 HAD BEEN INSTRUCTED TO ENTER TRAFFIC TO LAND ON RWY 33. TOWER PERSONEL ADVISED EACH PLT OF THE OTHER'S POSITION; HOWEVER, NEITHER PLT SAW THE OTHER ACFT UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO COLLIDING. THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF N6479L HIT THE LOWER FUSELAGE OF N45928. BOTH ACFT LANDED SAFELY, BUT THE PLT OF N6479L HAD SOME DIFFICULTY SINCE THE RUDDER HAD BECOME JAMMED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 8 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,619 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 25, 1983; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI
- Destination: MRI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 2,469 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 14°F (-10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:49 pm from ANC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 40 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,114 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 24, 1984; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MRI
- Destination: TKA Talkeetna AK
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 15, 2,469 ft by 60 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.