Piper PA28 and Cessna 150 mid-air collision near Fairmont, Nebraska, February 7, 2009
On February 7, 2009 at about 8:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA28 (N55502) and Cessna 150 (N5757G), were involved in a mid-air collision near Fairmont, Nebraska (Fairmont State Airfield). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other aircraft.
Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 12, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 7, 2009 · about 8:00 pm local time · cases in 2009
- Place
- Fairmont, Nebraska · Fairmont State Airfield · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Incident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA28 180 · all PA28s on the register
- Registration
- N55502 · registry record · serial 28-7305401
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150 K · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N5757G · registry record · serial 15071257
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA28 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of N55502, a low-wing airplane, said that he was on final approach at about 400 feet above ground level when he felt a mild jolt and heard a noise. The pilot discovered a flat tire immediately after touchdown, but taxied to the ramp in that condition. The pilot said he was not aware of the collision until after the postflight inspections of both airplanes. The pilot of the other airplane, N5757G, a high-wing airplane, said that he saw the other airplane immediately after the collision and that he landed second and followed N55502 to the ramp. N55502 sustained minor damage to the left main gear wheel pant and left main tire. N5757G sustained minor damage to both propeller tips and superficial damage to the top of the right wing. Both pilots said that they had flown a standard traffic pattern and that they had been making position announcements on the multicom radio frequency of 122.900.
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
The pilot of N55502, a low-wing airplane, said that he was on final approach at about 400 feet above ground level when he felt a mild jolt and heard a noise. The pilot discovered a flat tire immediately after touchdown, but taxied to the ramp in that condition. The pilot said he was not aware of the collision until after the postflight inspections of both airplanes. The pilot of the other airplane, N5757G, a high-wing airplane, said that he saw the other airplane immediately after the collision and that he landed second and followed N55502 to the ramp. N55502 sustained minor damage to the left main gear wheel pant and left main tire. N5757G sustained minor damage to both propeller tips and superficial damage to the top of the right wing. Both pilots said that they had flown a standard traffic pattern and that they had been making position announcements on the multicom radio frequency of 122.900.
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 PA28 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,601 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,556 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 26, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HJH Hebron NE at 7:30 pm
- Destination: KFMZ Fairmont NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,316 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from KLNK, 40 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Student pilot
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 56 hours in all; 54 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 15 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 7, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,343 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2008; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CEK Crete NE at 7:35 pm
- Destination: KFMZ Fairmont NE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,316 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N55502 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Piper PA-28 Cherokee, Warrior, Archer and Arrow 18,639 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Piper 44,848 aircraft on the register
- N5757G on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 150 7,993 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,684 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O360 1,067 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Continental O200 329 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Fairmont State Airport · nearest airport
- Hebron Municipal · departed from
- Crete Municipal · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Nebraska 763 since 1982 · 108 in the last ten years
- Nebraska 2,947 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN09IA161.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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.