Cessna 152 and Cessna 150 mid-air collision near Arlington, Tennessee, February 24, 1996
On February 24, 1996 at about 8:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N151FC) and Cessna 150 (N63434), were involved in a mid-air collision near Arlington, Tennessee (Arlington Municipal 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 pilot of the Cessna 150, N63434, to see and avoid the Cessna 152, N151FC.
the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 150, N63434, to see and avoid the Cessna 152, N151FC.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 24, 1996 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Tennessee · Arlington Municipal · 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 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N151FC · registry record · serial 152284200
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N63434 · no longer on the register · serial 1577310
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor on board the Cessna 152, N151FC, while in the traffic pattern , the student pilot radioed their landing intentions over the UNICOM frequency. The pilot of the Cessna 150, N63434, stated that he recalled hearing the radio transmissions and was aware of the Cessna 152. The Cessna 150 pilot also stated that he believed that both airplanes entered the traffic pattern at approximately the same time but the Cessna 152 was at a lower altitude. The collision occurred about two feet above the runway when the Cessna 150 landed on top of the Cessna 152.
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 150 final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the flight instructor on board the Cessna 152, N151FC, while in the traffic pattern , the student pilot radioed their landing intentions over the UNICOM frequency. The pilot of the Cessna 150, N63434, stated that he recalled hearing the radio transmissions and was aware of the Cessna 152. The Cessna 150 pilot also stated that he believed that both airplanes entered the traffic pattern at approximately the same time but the Cessna 152 was at a lower altitude. The collision occurred about two feet above the runway when the Cessna 150 landed on top of the Cessna 152.
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 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,402 hours in all; 434 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 1,259 as pilot in command; 463 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Douglas Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: OLV Olive Branch MS at 7:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:51 pm from MEM, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 639 hours in all; 331 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 560 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,509 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 29, 1996
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LHC at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
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.