Cessna T37B and Douglas A-26B mid-air collision near Chickamauga, Georgia, June 7, 1991
On June 7, 1991 at about 8:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna T37B (N120DB) and Douglas A-26B (N9150), were involved in a mid-air collision near Chickamauga, Georgia. 2 people were killed; 6 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE T-37 PILOT MISJUDGED THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE A-26.
THE T-37 PILOT MISJUDGED THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN HIS AIRCRAFT AND THE A-26.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 1991 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Chickamauga, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed; 6 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna T37B
- Registration
- N120DB · registry record · serial 563480C40053
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Douglas A-26B · all A-26Bs on the register
- Registration
- N9150 · no longer on the register · serial 28045
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna T37B final · quoted from the NTSB record
A T-37 AND AN A-26 COLLIDED IN FLIGHT AT 9500 FEET MSL WHILE PRACTICING AN ACROBATIC MANEUVER. THE MANEUVER REQUIRED THE T-37 TO PASS UNDER THE RIGHT WING OF THE A-26, AND TERMINATE THE MANEUVER WITH A ROLL. ACCORDING TO THE A-26 PILOT, THE FIRST FLY-BY WAS COMPLETED OUTBOARD THE RIGHT WING WITHOUT INCIDENT. BUT, ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT, THE A-26 PILOT NOTICED THAT THE RUDDER AND A PORTION OF THE RIGHT RUDDER AND HORIZONTAL STABILATOR WERE MISSING AS THE AIRPLANE EMERGED FROM BENEATH THE RIGHT WING. EXAMINATION OF THE A-26 AND RECOVERED COMPONENTS INDICATED CRUSH AND IMPACT DAMAGE FROM CONTACT WITH THE RIGHT PROPELLER OF THE A26. THE A-37 CRASHED AND BURNED.
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 Douglas A-26B final · quoted from the NTSB record
A T-37 AND AN A-26 COLLIDED IN FLIGHT AT 9500 FEET MSL WHILE PRACTICING AN ACROBATIC MANEUVER. THE MANEUVER REQUIRED THE T-37 TO PASS UNDER THE RIGHT WING OF THE A-26, AND TERMINATE THE MANEUVER WITH A ROLL. ACCORDING TO THE A-26 PILOT, THE FIRST FLY-BY WAS COMPLETED OUTBOARD THE RIGHT WING WITHOUT INCIDENT. BUT, ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT, THE A-26 PILOT NOTICED THAT THE RUDDER AND A PORTION OF THE RIGHT RUDDER AND HORIZONTAL STABILATOR WERE MISSING AS THE AIRPLANE EMERGED FROM BENEATH THE RIGHT WING. EXAMINATION OF THE A-26 AND RECOVERED COMPONENTS INDICATED CRUSH AND IMPACT DAMAGE FROM CONTACT WITH THE RIGHT PROPELLER OF THE A26. THE A-37 CRASHED AND BURNED.
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 T37B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 18, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 6,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental J69-25A (turbojet); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: GAO Cartersville GA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: RNC Mcminnville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from CHA, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Douglas A-26B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,665 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, December 26, 1990; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 35,000 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R-2800-79 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GAO Cartersville GA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: RNC Mcminnville TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL91FA108.