Cessna 152 and Cessna 172M mid-air collision near Drayton Plaines, Michigan, March 1, 1986
On March 1, 1986 at about 9:12 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N93604) and Cessna 172M (N48003), were involved in a mid-air collision near Drayton Plaines, Michigan (Pontiac-Oakland airport). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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 accident. 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
- March 1, 1986 · about 9:12 pm local time
- Place
- Drayton Plaines, Michigan · Pontiac-Oakland
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N93604 · no longer on the register · serial 15285526
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N48003 · no longer on the register · serial 17263886
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A HOME BUILT DRAGON FLY GND LOOPED, OTHER ACFT IN THE VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN WERE SENT AROUND, INCLUDING A CESSNA 152(C-152), N93604, FLOWN BY A STUDENT PLT. SHORTLY AFTER THE DRAGON FLY WAS CLRD FM THE RWY, CESSNA 172 (C-172), N48003, ENTERED THE PATTERN, MAKING A TOTAL OF 6 ACFT IN THE PATTERN & 1 ACFT (PLT) WAITING TO DEPART. THE C-172 HAD ENTERED THEPATTERN AHEAD OF THE C-152. THE TWR CONTROLLER (CTLR) TOLD THE STUDENT (C-152) HE WAS #3 IN THE PATTERN 'FOLLOWING A CESSNA ON BASE.' THE STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE #1 ACFT IN THE PATTERN LANDED & THE PLT WAITING TO DEPART WAS CLEARED TO TAKEOFF. AS THE C-172 & C-152 CONTD IN THE PATTERN, THE CTLR ASKED THE STUDENT (C-152) IF HE WAS STILL FOLLOWING THE CESSNA AHEAD; THE STUDENT REPLIED 'THAT'S AFFIRMATIVE.' HOWEVER, ON FINAL APCH, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED, THEN FELL TO THE GND. THE CTLR, WHO WAS BUSY, DID NOT SEE THE ACDNT. THE PLT-IN-COMMAND OF THE C-172 WAS FATALLY INJURED; THE 2ND PLT (COPLT) IN THE C-172 & THE C-152 PLT WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
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 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A HOME BUILT DRAGON FLY GND LOOPED, OTHER ACFT IN THE VFR TRAFFIC PATTERN WERE SENT AROUND, INCLUDING A CESSNA 152(C-152), N93604, FLOWN BY A STUDENT PLT. SHORTLY AFTER THE DRAGON FLY WAS CLRD FM THE RWY, CESSNA 172 (C-172), N48003, ENTERED THE PATTERN, MAKING A TOTAL OF 6 ACFT IN THE PATTERN & 1 ACFT (PLT) WAITING TO DEPART. THE C-172 HAD ENTERED THEPATTERN AHEAD OF THE C-152. THE TWR CONTROLLER (CTLR) TOLD THE STUDENT (C-152) HE WAS #3 IN THE PATTERN 'FOLLOWING A CESSNA ON BASE.' THE STUDENT ACKNOWLEDGED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE #1 ACFT IN THE PATTERN LANDED & THE PLT WAITING TO DEPART WAS CLEARED TO TAKEOFF. AS THE C-172 & C-152 CONTD IN THE PATTERN, THE CTLR ASKED THE STUDENT (C-152) IF HE WAS STILL FOLLOWING THE CESSNA AHEAD; THE STUDENT REPLIED 'THAT'S AFFIRMATIVE.' HOWEVER, ON FINAL APCH, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED, THEN FELL TO THE GND. THE CTLR, WHO WAS BUSY, DID NOT SEE THE ACDNT. THE PLT-IN-COMMAND OF THE C-172 WAS FATALLY INJURED; THE 2ND PLT (COPLT) IN THE C-172 & THE C-152 PLT WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 26 hours in all; 26 in this make and model; 26 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 780 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 1985; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,680 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 3,251 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:15 pm from PTK, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 261 hours in all; 261 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 230 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,691 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 6, 1986; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27R, 3,251 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
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.