Robinson R22B and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Atlanta, Georgia, February 19, 1993
On February 19, 1993 at about 3:57 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Robinson R22B (N621SG) and Cessna 152 (N5532Q), were involved in a mid-air collision near Atlanta, Georgia (Fulton County airport). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT/APPLICANT OF THE R22B, N621SG, TO FOLLOW LOW APPROACH PROCEDURES, AND THE FAILURE OF THE DESIGNATED EXAMINER/OBSERVER IN THE R22B TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION FROM THE CESSNA 152, N5532Q. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE INSUFFICIENT RESPONSE OF BOTH PILOTS OF THE R22B IN REPLY TO TRAFFIC INFORMATION, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN POSITIVE CONFIRMATION OF VISUAL ACQUISITION OF THE CESSNA 152 FROM THE PILOTS OF THE R22B, AND THE FAILURE OF THE LOCAL CONTROLLER TO REMAIN ATTENTIVE TO THE CONVERGING TRAFFIC AND ISSUE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONS TO AVOID THE COLLISION.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT/APPLICANT OF THE R22B, N621SG, TO FOLLOW LOW APPROACH PROCEDURES, AND THE FAILURE OF THE DESIGNATED EXAMINER/OBSERVER IN THE R22B TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION FROM THE CESSNA 152, N5532Q. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE INSUFFICIENT RESPONSE OF BOTH PILOTS OF THE R22B IN REPLY TO TRAFFIC INFORMATION, THE LOCAL CONTROLLER'S FAILURE TO OBTAIN POSITIVE CONFIRMATION OF VISUAL ACQUISITION OF THE CESSNA 152 FROM THE PILOTS OF THE R22B, AND THE FAILURE OF THE LOCAL CONTROLLER TO REMAIN ATTENTIVE TO THE CONVERGING TRAFFIC AND ISSUE APPROPRIATE INSTRUCTIONS TO AVOID THE COLLISION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 19, 1993 · about 3:57 pm local time
- Place
- Atlanta, Georgia · Fulton County · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Robinson R22B · all R22Bs on the register
- Registration
- N621SG · no longer on the register · serial 1985
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N5532Q · no longer on the register · serial 1528519
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Robinson R22B final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CE-152, N5532Q, WAS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A TOUCH-AND-GO ON RWY 9. THE R22B, N621SG, WAS EXECUTING A PRACTICE ILS INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO RWY 8, HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR A LOW APPROACH, AND HAD BEEN GIVEN AN ADVISORY AS TO THE CE-152'S LOCATION & INTENTION TO WHICH THE PILOT RESPONDED 'SIERRA GOLF'. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE R22B APPEARED TO BE EXECUTING A CLIMBING LEFT TURN JUST PAST THE APPROACH END OF RWY 8, THEN OVERTOOK AND COLLIDED WITH THE CE-152. THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL ADVISES 'UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY ATC, THE LOW APPROACH SHOULD BE MADE STRAIGHT AHEAD, WITH NO TURNS OR CLIMB MADE UNTIL THE PILOT HAS MADE A THOROUGH VISUAL CHECK FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA.'
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 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CE-152, N5532Q, WAS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR A TOUCH-AND-GO ON RWY 9. THE R22B, N621SG, WAS EXECUTING A PRACTICE ILS INSTRUMENT APPROACH TO RWY 8, HAD BEEN CLEARED FOR A LOW APPROACH, AND HAD BEEN GIVEN AN ADVISORY AS TO THE CE-152'S LOCATION & INTENTION TO WHICH THE PILOT RESPONDED 'SIERRA GOLF'. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE R22B APPEARED TO BE EXECUTING A CLIMBING LEFT TURN JUST PAST THE APPROACH END OF RWY 8, THEN OVERTOOK AND COLLIDED WITH THE CE-152. THE AIRMAN'S INFORMATION MANUAL ADVISES 'UNLESS OTHERWISE AUTHORIZED BY ATC, THE LOW APPROACH SHOULD BE MADE STRAIGHT AHEAD, WITH NO TURNS OR CLIMB MADE UNTIL THE PILOT HAS MADE A THOROUGH VISUAL CHECK FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA.'
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 Robinson R22B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 349 hours in all; 192 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 304 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 543 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 25, 1992; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-B2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Prestige Helicopters, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Chamblee GA at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 8, 5,796 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: ovct at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 32°F (0°C), dew point 12°F (-11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:08 pm from FTY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,047 hours in all; 66 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days; 1,009 as pilot in command; 486 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,200 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 11, 1993; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: PDK Chamblee GA at 3:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,801 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.