Taylorcraft DCO-75 and Cessna 172M mid-air collision near Mckinley Park, Alaska, September 8, 1990
On September 8, 1990 at about 10:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Taylorcraft DCO-75 (N49032) and Cessna 172M (N5271H), were involved in a mid-air collision near Mckinley Park, Alaska. 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT TO SEE-AND-AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT.
FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT TO SEE-AND-AVOID OTHER AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1990 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mckinley Park, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Taylorcraft DCO-75
- Registration
- N49032 · no longer on the register · serial L-5205
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N5271H · no longer on the register · serial 17265391
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Taylorcraft DCO-75 final · quoted from the NTSB record
SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDE, ALMOST HEAD-ON, WHILE AT ABOUT 500 FEET AGL. NEITHER PILOT APPEARED TO TAKE ANY EVASIVE ACTION. BOTH PILOTS HAD FLOWN TO THE AREA TO CHECK ON FRIENDS AT SEPARATE HUNTING CAMPS.
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 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
SEVERAL WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE TWO AIRPLANES COLLIDE, ALMOST HEAD-ON, WHILE AT ABOUT 500 FEET AGL. NEITHER PIL0T APPEARED TO TAKE ANY EVASIVE ACTION. BOTH PILOTS HAD FLOWN TO THE AREA TO CHECK ON FRIENDS AT SEPARATE HUNTING CAMPS.
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 Taylorcraft DCO-75 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Unknown (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-75 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PII Fairbanks AK at 3:30 pm
- Destination: PII
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FAI Fairbanks AK at 3:53 pm
- Destination: FAI
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
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.