Cessna 152 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Pontiac, Michigan, September 23, 1982
On September 23, 1982 at about 9:24 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N24236) and Cessna 152 (N4745B), were involved in a mid-air collision near Pontiac, Michigan (Oakland-Pontiac 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 23, 1982 · about 9:24 pm local time
- Place
- Pontiac, Michigan · Oakland-Pontiac · map
- Type
- Incident · 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
- N24236 · registry record · serial 15280166
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4745B · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AN INSTRUCTOR PILOT (IP) AND STUDENT WERE ON A DUAL INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT IN CESSNA 152, N24236. AT 1722:05, N24236 WAS CLEARED FOR TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 27L AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY RIGHT TRAFFIC FOR RUNWAY 27R. AT 1722:11, ANOTHER CESSNA 152, N4745B, WAS CLEARED FOR A TOUCH-AND-GO ON RUNWAY 27R. THE IP (OF N24236) STATED THAT AFTER REACHING AN APPROPRIATE ALTITUDE AND DISTANCE FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY 27L, A RIGHT TURN WAS MADE, NORTHBOUND. AT 1723:34, LOCAL CONTROL ISSUED AN ADVISORY FOR N24236 TO FLY WESTBOUND (RUNWAY HEADING), THEN PROVIDE A WARNING OF THE OTHER CESSNA IN THEIR VICINITY. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE STUDENT SAW N4745B CONVERGING FROM BELOW AND THE IP TOOK EVASIVE ACTION. HOWEVER, THE PROPELLER ON N4745B STRUCK THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE ON N24236. BOTH AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY WITH ONLY MINOR DAMAGE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A PERIOD OF PEAK TRAFFIC.
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 PILOT WAS ON A LOCAL FLIGHT IN CESSNA 152, N4745B, PRACTICING LANDINGS DURING A PERIOD OF PEAK TRAFFIC. WHILE THE PILOT WAS IN THE TRAFFIC TO LAND ON RUNWAY 27R, ANOTHER CESSNA 152, N24236, WAS CLEARED ONTO THE LEFT RUNWAY (27L). AT 1722:05, N24236 WAS CLEAR FOR TAKEOFF AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO FLY RIGHT TRAFFIC FOR RUNWAY 27R. AT 1722:11, N4745B WAS CLEARED FOR A TOUCH-AND-GO ON RIGHT RUNWAY. AFTER TAKEOFF, N24236 STARTED A RIGHT TURN. AT 1723:34, LOCAL CONTROL ISSUED AN ADVISORY FOR N24236 TO TURN WESTBOUND (RUNWAY HEADING), THEN PROVIDED A WARNING OF THE OTHER CESSNA IN ITS VICINITY. AT ABOUT THAT TIME, THE PILOT OF N4745B SAW THE LANDING GEAR ABOUT 1 TO 2 FT ABOVE THE RIGHT WING. HE TOOK EVASIVE ACTION, BUT NOT IN TIME. THE PROPELLER OF N4745B STRUCK THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE OF N24236. BOTH AIRCRAFT LANDED SAFELY WITH ONLY MINOR DAMAGE.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,715 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 48 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,348 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 5:20 pm
- Destination: PTK Pontiac MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27L, 6,200 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 158°F (70°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:45 pm from PTK
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 48 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PTK Pontiac MI at 5:20 pm
- Destination: PTK Pontiac MI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 3,250 ft by 75 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N24236 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.