Cessna 150M and Cessna 150F mid-air collision near Gaston, South Carolina, April 19, 1986
On April 19, 1986 at about 3:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150M (N714PU) and Cessna 150F (N3015X), were involved in a mid-air collision near Gaston, South Carolina (Lexington CO. airport). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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 19, 1986 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gaston, South Carolina · Lexington CO. · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N714PU · no longer on the register · serial 150-79334
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150F · all 150Fs on the register
- Registration
- N3015X · no longer on the register · serial 15064415
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150M final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED AND WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. BOTH AIRCRAFT FLEW A LEFT HAND TRAFFIC PATTERN AT A PATTERN ALTITUDE OF 1000 FT MSL. A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT RELATED THAT ONE AIRCRAFT FLEW DIRECTLY BELOW THE OTHER, AND AT NO TIME DURING THE APPROACH WAS THE VERTICAL SEPARATION BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT MORE THAT 10 FT.
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 150F final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO AIRCRAFT COLLIDED AND WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING LANDING FLARE/TOUCHDOWN AT THE UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. BOTH AIRCRAFT FLEW A LEFT HAND TRAFFIC PATTERN AT A PATTERN ALTITUDE OF 1000 FT MSL. A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT RELATED THAT ONE AIRCRAFT FLEW DIRECTLY BELOW THE OTHER, AND AT NO TIME DURING THE APPROACH WAS THE VERTICAL SEPARATION BETWEEN THE AIRCRAFT MORE THAT 10 FT.
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 150M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 872 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 849 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,870 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 13, 1986; 58 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7J1 Gaston SC at 2:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,350 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150F from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 24 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,870 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 14, 1985; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 3,350 ft by 90 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.