Cessna 172N and Cessna 172S accident near Johnson County Exec Airport, Kansas, February 25, 2009
On February 25, 2009 at about 10:17 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172N (N734WD) and Cessna 172S (N5258Y), were involved in the same accident near Johnson County Exec Airport, Kansas (Johnson County Executive Airpo 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 private pilot to see and avoid the student pilot's airplane, and the failure of the student pilot to avoid the approaching airplane. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the student pilot to obtain taxi clearance.
Failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172S to ensure the taxiway was clear prior to initiating the turn. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the pilot of the Cessna 172N to obtain taxi clearance prior to entering the movement area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2009 · about 10:17 pm local time
- Place
- Johnson County Exec Airport, Kansas · Johnson County Executive Airpo · 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
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N734WD · no longer on the register · serial 17269165
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N5258Y · registry record · serial 172S9141
- 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
Two airplanes were taxiing to the run up area of the airfield. A Cessna 172N, piloted by a student pilot, had departed a terminal ramp without obtaining proper clearance and was taxiing down the parallel taxiway. A Cessna 172S, piloted by a private pilot, had been cleared to taxi and crossed the active runway. The private pilot had his attention diverted to the run up area to his left, did not look right as he approached the parallel taxiway, and did not see the 172N. The student pilot saw the 172S as she taxied, but thought the other plane would stop and did not take any action to avoid the other airplane. The 172S collided with the 172N resulting in substantial damage to the 172N. The tower controller was monitoring a different area of the airfield and did not see the converging airplanes.
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 172S final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two airplanes were taxiing to the run up area of the airfield. A Cessna 172N, piloted by a student pilot, had departed a terminal ramp without obtaining proper clearance and was taxiing down the parallel taxiway. A Cessna 172S, piloted by a private pilot, had been cleared to taxi and crossed the active runway. The private pilot had his attention diverted to the run up area to his left, did not look right as he approached the parallel taxiway, and did not see the 172N. The student pilot saw the 172S as she taxied, but thought the other plane would stop and did not take any action to avoid the other airplane. The 172S collided with the 172N resulting in substantial damage to the 172N. The tower controller was monitoring a different area of the airfield and did not see the converging airplanes.
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
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Ground collision during prior to flight defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Student pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Student pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OJC Johnson County Exec Airport KS
- Destination: OJC Johnson County Exec Airport KS
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 36, 4,098 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from OJC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during prior to flight
- Ground collision during prior to flight defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot of other aircraft
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 478 hours in all; 303 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 20, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,437 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 31, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: T&C Aviation Enterprises INC DBA
The flight
- Departed from: OJC Johnson County Exec Airport KS
- Destination: OJC Johnson County Exec Airport KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 4,098 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N734WD the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.