Cessna 172N and amateur-built C.G.S. HAWK CLASSIC mid-air collision near Paris, Tennessee, March 29, 1995
On March 29, 1995 at about 8:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172N (N258ER) and amateur-built C.G.S. HAWK CLASSIC (UNREG), were involved in a mid-air collision near Paris, Tennessee (Henry County 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 failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain proper visual lookout during landing at the uncontrolled airport.
The failure of the pilots of both aircraft to maintain proper visual lookout during landing at the uncontrolled airport.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 29, 1995 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Paris, Tennessee · Henry County · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N258ER · registry record · serial 17270891
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built C.G.S. HAWK CLASSIC C.G.S. HAW
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH THE CESSNA 172N AND THE C.G.S. HAWK CLASSIC ULTRALIGHT WERE ON DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 30. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR OF THE ULTRALIGHT CONTACTED THE RIGHT WING OF THE CESSNA 172N. THE CESSNA 172N SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, AND THE ULTRALIGHT RIGHT LANDING GEAR WAS BROKEN OFF IN THE COLLISION. BOTH AIRCRAFT CONTINUED AND LANDED WITH NO INJURIES OR FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH PILOTS REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE THE OTHER AIRCRAFT UNTIL AFTER 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 amateur-built C.G.S. HAWK CLASSIC final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH THE CESSNA 172N AND THE C.G.S. HAWK CLASSIC ULTRALIGHT WERE ON DOWNWIND FOR RUNWAY 30. THE RIGHT LANDING GEAR OF THE ULTRALIGHT CONTACTED THE RIGHT WING OF THE CESSNA 172N. THE CESSNA 172N SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING, AND THE ULTRALIGHT RIGHT LANDING GEAR WAS BROKEN OFF IN THE COLLISION. BOTH AIRCRAFT CONTINUED AND LANDED WITH NO INJURIES OR FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT. BOTH PILOTS REPORTED THAT THEY DID NOT SEE THE OTHER AIRCRAFT UNTIL AFTER 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 Cessna 172N 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: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 8,000 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 127 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,438 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 15, 1995; 46 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:40 pm from PHT, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built C.G.S. HAWK CLASSIC from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Kawasaki 440A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.