Piper PA-38-112 and Piper PA-38-112 mid-air collision near Florence, Alabama, July 1, 1990
On July 1, 1990 at about 10:23 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-38-112 (N2409K) and Piper PA-38-112 (N2437K), were involved in a mid-air collision near Florence, Alabama. 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N2409K TO MAINTAIN SAFE SEPARATION FROM N2437K DURING UNAUTHORIZED FORMATION MANEUVERING. OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY AND THE EXECUTIVE OF UNAUTHORIZED FORMATION FLIGHT ON THE PART OF BOTH PILOTS-IN-COMMAND WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE OF BOTH PILOTS-IN-COMMAND WAS ALSO A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND OF N2409K TO MAINTAIN SAFE SEPARATION FROM N2437K DURING UNAUTHORIZED FORMATION MANEUVERING. OVERCONFIDENCE IN PERSONAL ABILITY AND THE EXECUTION OF UNAUTHORIZED FORMATION FLIGHT ON THE PART OF BOTH PILOTS-IN-COMMAND WERE FACTORS IN THE ACCIDENT. THE LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE OF BOTH PILOTS-IN-COMMAND WAS ALSO A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 1, 1990 · about 10:23 pm local time
- Place
- Florence, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2409K · registry record · serial 38-79A0620
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2437K · no longer on the register · serial 38-79A0634
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-38-112 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS OF TWO SIMILAR PA-38-112 AIRPLANES WERE FILED FOR SEPARATE VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHTS. AFTER AN INTERMEDIATE STOPOVER AT AN AIRPORT AWAY FROM HOME BASE, THE TWO AIRPLANES JOINED UP AND BEGAN FLYING IN FORMATION. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE TRAILING AIRPLANE (N2409K) COLLIDED WITH THE LEADING AIRPLANE (N2437K) FROM THE REAR WHILE MANEUVERING. IMPACT, PAINT AND RUBBER TRANSFER MARKS INDICATED THAT N2409K COLLIDED WITH N2437K FROM THE REAR, RIGHT SIDE. THE FLIGHT SCHOOL FROM WHICH THE PILOTS WERE ENROLLED EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED FORMATION FLYING OF ANY TYPE. THE PIC'S OF EACH AIRPLANE HAD LOGGED ABOUT 118 HOURS EACH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND HAD RECEIVED THEIR PILOT CERTIFICATES THE MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOTS AND PILOT RATED PASSENGERS WERE ALL SPANISH CITIZENS.
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 Piper PA-38-112 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOTS OF TWO SIMILAR PA-38-112 AIRPLANES WERE FILED FOR SEPARATE VFR CROSS COUNTRY FLIGHTS. AFTER AN INTERMEDIATE STOPOVER AT AN AIRPORT AWAY FROM HOME BASE, THE TWO AIRPLANES JOINED UP AND BEGAN FLYING IN FORMATION. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE TRAILING AIRPLANE (N2409K) COLLIDED WITH THE LEADING AIRPLANE (N2437K) FROM THE REAR WHILE MANEUVERING. IMPACT, PAINT AND RUBBER TRANSFER MARKS INDICATED THAT N2409K COLLIDED WITH N2437K FROM THE REAR, RIGHT SIDE. THE FLIGHT SCHOOL FROM WHICH THE PILOTS WERE ENROLLED EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED FORMATION FLYING OF ANY TYPE. THE PIC'S OF EACH AIRPLANE HAD LOGGED ABOUT 118 HOURS EACH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND HAD RECEIVED THEIR PILOT CERTIFICATES THE MONTH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOTS AND PILOT RATED PASSENGERS WERE ALL SPANISH CITIZENS.
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 Piper PA-38-112 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 118 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 86 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 42 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,138 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 14, 1990; 25 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: HSV Huntsville AL at 9:41 pm
- Destination: M08 Bolivar TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from MSL, 8 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-38-112 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 118 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 118 in the last 90 days; 46 in the last 30 days; 47 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 11, 1990; 20 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: HSV Huntsville AL at 9:40 pm
- Destination: M08 Bolivar TN
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.