Cessna 182R and Cessna 172P mid-air collision near Kennesaw, Georgia, April 29, 1987
On April 29, 1987 at about 10:43 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 182R (N5511N) and Cessna 172P (N52995), were involved in a mid-air collision near Kennesaw, Georgia (Mccollum Field). 2 people were killed. 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 29, 1987 · about 10:43 pm local time
- Place
- Kennesaw, Georgia · Mccollum Field · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5511N · no longer on the register · serial 67762
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N52995 · registry record · serial 172P74655
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182R final · quoted from the NTSB record
N5511N WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT COBB COUNTY AIRPORT-MC COLLUM FIELD AND WAS NEAR THE TURNING POINT FROM CROSSWIND TO DWND WHEN IT WAS STRUCK BY N52995. N52995 WAS MAKING A STRAIGHT-IN ENTRY INTO THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, FROM THE WEST WITH THE SUN DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM. HIS ENTRY INTO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WAS IN CONFLICT WITH RECENTLY PUBLISHED CHANGES TO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT MC COLLUM. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE SEEN TO TURN IN THE SAME DIRECTION JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE AIRCRAFT WERE REPORTED TO HAVE COLLIDED BOTTOM TO BOTTOM. THE TWO AIRCRAFT FELL INTO A WOODED AREA AND LANDED ABOUT 50 YARDS APART. THE ENGINE OF N5511N SEPARATED AND FELL ABOUT 100 YDS FROM THE TWO FUSELAGES.
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 172P final · quoted from the NTSB record
N5511N WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT COBB COUNTY AIRPORT-MC COLLUM FIELD AND WAS NEAR THE TURNING POINT FROM CROSSWIND TO DWND WHEN IT WAS STRUCK BY N52995. N52995 WAS MAKING A STRAIGHT-IN ENTRY INTO THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN FROM THE WEST WITH THE SUN DIRECTLY BEHIND HIM. HIS ENTRY INTO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN WAS IN CONFLICT WITH RECENTLY PUBLISHED CHANGES TO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AT MC COLLUM. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE SEEN TO TURN IN THE SAME DIRECTION JUST PRIOR TO THE COLLISION. THE AIRCRAFT WERE REPORTED TO HAVE COLLIDED BOTTOM TO BOTTOM. THE TWO AIRCRAFT FELL INTO A WOODED AREA AND LANDED ABOUT 50 YARDS APART. THE ENGINE OF N5511N SEPARATED AND FELL ABOUT 100 YDS FROM THE TWO FUSELAGES.
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 182R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 77 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 33 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,107 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,591 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:00 pm from MGE, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172P from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 154 hours in all; 46 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 112 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,442 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 2, 1986; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: A.A.T. Aero Club
The flight
- Departed from: FTY Atlanta GA at 10:43 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,591 ft by 75 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.