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Accidents · NTSB ATL91LA181 · Final report

Piper PA-38-112 and Stinson L-5 accident near Lagrange, Georgia, September 26, 1991

On September 26, 1991 at about 9:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-38-112 (N26004) and Stinson L-5 (N67174), were involved in the same accident near Lagrange, Georgia (Lagrange-Callaway airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE OTHER PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.
THE J-5 PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 26, 1991 · about 9:15 pm local time · cases in 1991
Place
Lagrange, Georgia · Lagrange-Callaway · cases near this airport · map
Type
Accident · collision on the ground
Injuries
No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft 1
Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
Registration
N26004 · no longer on the register · serial 38-81A0091
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
Aircraft 2
Stinson L-5 · all L-5s on the register
Registration
N67174 · registry record · serial 76-397
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-38-112 final · quoted from the NTSB record

A J-5 AND PA-38-112 COLLIDED ON A TAXIWAY WHILE PREPARING FOR VISUAL DEPARTURES FROM THE SAME RUNWAY. THE PA-38 FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE CONDUCTING A BEFORE TAKEOFF RUNUP WHEN THEY NOTICED THAT THE COLLISION WAS POSSIBLE. THE PA-38 PILOTS ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE COLLISION BUT WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE TAXIWAY BEFORE THE COLLISION. ACCORDING TO THE J-5 PILOT, HE WAS NOT 'S' TURNING, WHICH IS A NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR TAXIING CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANES, AND FAILED TO SEE THE PIPER IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO AVOID THE COLLISION.

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 Stinson L-5 final · quoted from the NTSB record

A J-5 AND PA-38-112 COLLIDED ON A TAXIWAY WHILE PREPARING FOR VISUAL DEPARTURES FROM THE SAME RUNWAY. THE PA-38 FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT PILOT WERE CONDUCTING A BEFORE TAKEOFF RUNUP WHEN THEY NOTICED THAT THE COLLISION WAS POSSIBLE. THE PA-38 PILOTS ATTEMPTED TO AVOID THE COLLISION BUT WERE UNABLE TO EXIT THE TAXIWAY BEFORE THE COLLISION. ACCORDING TO THE J-5 PILOT, HE WAS NOT 'S' TURNING, WHICH IS A NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR TAXIING CONVENTIONAL GEAR AIRPLANES, AND FAILED TO SEE THE PIPER IN SUFFICIENT TIME TO AVOID THE COLLISION.

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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane
  • Flight time: 725 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 190 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 630 as pilot in command; 345 on instruments
  • Medical certificate: None (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: rgt

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, August 28, 1991; 30 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
  • Operator: Lagrange Flying Club

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 31, 3,600 ft by 150 ft
  • A second pilot was aboard

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 310° at 10 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
  • Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
  • Observation at 10:15 pm from LGC, 1 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew2

The factual record for the Stinson L-5 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

  • Certificate: commercial pilot
  • Ratings: single-engine land
  • Flight time: 996 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 916 as pilot in command
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: frt

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 2,581 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 1990; 15 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Lycoming O-435C (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Departed from: LGC Lagrange GA
  • Destination: CSG Columbus GA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 31, 5,600 ft by 150 ft

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ATL91LA181.json.

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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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.