Accidents · NTSB CHI93LA214 · Final report

Cessna 172D and Piper PA-32-300 accident near Galesburg, Illinois, June 18, 1993

On June 18, 1993 at about 7:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172D (N2632U) and Piper PA-32-300 (N251NW), were involved in the same accident near Galesburg, Illinois (Galesburg Municipal airport). 3 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

THE DEPARTING PILOT'S (N251NW) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE OPERATING IN VFR CONDITIONS AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE DEPARTING PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION, AND THE ARRIVING PILOT'S (N2632U) INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date: June 18, 1993 · about 7:45 pm local time
Place: Galesburg, Illinois · Galesburg Municipal · map
Type: Accident · collision on the ground
Injuries: 3 people had minor injuries.
Weather: visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft 1: Cessna 172D · all 172Ds on the register
Registration: N2632U · no longer on the register · serial 17250232
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
Aircraft 2: Piper PA-32-300 · all PA-32-300s on the register
Registration: N251NW · no longer on the register · serial 32-40414
Damage: Substantial damage
Flight: Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172D final · quoted from the NTSB record

N251NW WAS DEPARTING ON RUNWAY 2 AND N2632U WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 10. THE AIRPLANES COLLIDED AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE TWO RUNWAYS. A WEATHER OBSERVATION MADE FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT INDICATED AN OVERCAST CLOUD LAYER AT 2000 FEET, 3 MILES VISIBILITY, AND WINDS OUT OF 070 DEGREES AT 3 KNOTS. BOTH PILOTS STATED THEY COMMUNICATED THEIR INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY. AIRPORT PERSONNEL ADVISED THEY HEARD TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE AIRPLANE INBOUND FOR LANDING. BOTH PILOTS STATED THEY DID NOT SEE THE OTHER AIRPLANE UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE PILOT OF N251NW REPORTED THAT HE CHECKED THE GAUGES OF HIS AIRCRAFT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AFTER HAVING HAD A PREVIOUS MAGNETO TIMING PROBLEM.

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 Piper PA-32-300 final · quoted from the NTSB record

N251NW WAS DEPARTING ON RUNWAY 2 AND N2632U WAS LANDING ON RUNWAY 10. THE AIRPLANES COLLIDED AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE TWO RUNWAYS. A WEATHER OBSERVATION MADE FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER THE ACCIDENT INDICATED AN OVERCAST CLOUD LAYER AT 2000 FEET, 3 MILES VISIBILITY, AND WINDS OUT OF 070 DEGREES AT 3 KNOTS. BOTH PILOTS STATED THEY COMMUNICATED THEIR INTENTIONS ON THE UNICOM FREQUENCY. AIRPORT PERSONNEL ADVISED THEY HEARD TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE AIRPLANE INBOUND FOR LANDING. BOTH PILOTS STATED THEY DID NOT SEE THE OTHER AIRPLANE UNTIL JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE PILOT OF N251NW REPORTED THAT HE CHECKED THE GAUGES OF HIS AIRCRAFT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL AFTER HAVING HAD A PREVIOUS MAGNETO TIMING PROBLEM.

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 172D from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

Certificate: student
Flight time: 87 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 51 as pilot in command
Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
Seat: left

The aircraft

Airframe total time: 4,046 hours
Last inspection: annual inspection, December 20, 1992; 22 hours since
Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
Seats: 4
Landing gear: fixed
Engine: Continental O-300-D (piston); 0 hours total
Operator: S & A Aviation

The flight

Departed from: 7C2 Mediapolis IA at 7:25 pm
Flight plan: none
Runway 10, 3,601 ft by 100 ft

Weather at the time

Light: daylight
Wind: from 070° at 3 knots
Visibility: 3 statute miles
Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; not recorded at 2,000 ft
Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observation at 8:00 pm from GBG, 1 miles away

Injuries

	Fatal	Serious	Minor	None
Crew			1

The factual record for the Piper PA-32-300 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

Pilot

Certificate: private
Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
Flight time: 3,132 hours in all; 407 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 3,132 as pilot in command
Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
Seat: left

The aircraft

Airframe total time: 4,468 hours
Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 5, 1992; 50 hours since
Maximum gross weight: 3,400 lb
Seats: 6
Landing gear: fixed
Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
Operator: Perceptive Enterprises, INC.

The flight

Departed from: GBG at 7:44 pm
Destination: MSP Minneapolis MN
Flight plan: none
Runway 2, 5,793 ft by 150 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.