Cessna 152 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Branson, Missouri, April 23, 1992
On April 23, 1992 at about 5:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N59ND) and Cessna 152 (N57ND), were involved in a mid-air collision near Branson, Missouri. 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT IN FAILING TO MAINTAIN PROPER SEPARATION FROM THIS AIRCRAFT.
INADEQUATE INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND IN FAILING TO MAINTAIN DISTANCE SEPARATION FROM THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1992 · about 5:10 pm local time
- Place
- Branson, Missouri
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N59ND · no longer on the register · serial 15285984
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N57ND · no longer on the register · serial 15285958
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS AIRCRAFT WAS THE LEAD AIRCRAFT OF A FLIGHT OF FOUR AIRCRAFT IN CRUISE FLIGHT IN A LOOSE DIAMOND FORMATION. ALL FOUR AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA, AND WERE ENROUTE TO A COLLEGIATE FLYING COMPETITION. THE AIRCRAFT IN THE LEFT WING POSITION HIT THIS AIRCRAFT IN THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. NEITHER AIRCRAFT COULD SUSTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. BOTH AIRCRAFT MADE FORCED LANDINGS. FORMATION FLYING IS NOT A PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA FLIGHT SYLLABUS.
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
THIS AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE LEFT WING POSITION OF A FLIGHT OF FOUR AIRCRAFT WHICH WERE IN CRUISE FLIGHT IN A LOOSE DIAMOND FORMATION. ALL OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE OPERATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA, AND WERE ENROUTE TO A COLLEGIATE FLYING COMPETITION. THE AIRCRAFT DRIFTED INTO THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COWLING HIT THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR OF THE LEAD AIRCRAFT. NEITHER AIRCRAFT COULD SUSTAIN FLIGHT AFTER THE COLLISION. BOTH AIRCRAFT MADE FORCED LANDINGS. FORMATION FLYING IS NOT A PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA FLIGHT SYLLABUS.
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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 480 hours in all; 180 in this make and model; 65 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 315 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,323 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 29, 1992; 53 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
The flight
- Departed from: SGF Springfield MO at 4:30 pm
- Destination: LIT Little Rock AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 19 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:50 pm from SGF, 55 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 200 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 400 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,473 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 13, 1992
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: University Of North Dakota
The flight
- Departed from: SGF Springfield MO at 4:30 pm
- Destination: LIT Little Rock AR
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 0
- 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.