Amateur-built Q2 and Cessna 172K mid-air collision near Watkins, Colorado, March 8, 1989
On March 8, 1989 at about 9:55 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built Q2 (N3278C) and Cessna 172K (N7392G), were involved in a mid-air collision near Watkins, Colorado (Aurora airport). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF BOTH PILOT'S TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
FAILURE OF BOTH PILOT'S TO MAINTAIN VISUAL LOOKOUT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 1989 · about 9:55 pm local time
- Place
- Watkins, Colorado · Aurora
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built Q2
- Registration
- N3278C · registry record · serial 2709
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172K · all 172Ks on the register
- Registration
- N7392G · no longer on the register · serial 17259092
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built Q2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N3278C, A WESTBOUND QUICKIE Q2, AND N7392G, A NORTHBOUND CESSNA 172K, COLLIDED IN MIDAIR AT RELATIVELY LOW ALT. VMC PREVAILED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT EITHER PLT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION PRIOR TO THE COLLISION.
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 172K final · quoted from the NTSB record
N3278C, A WESTBOUND QUICKIE Q2, AND N7392G, A NORTHBOUND CESSNA 172K, COLLIDED IN MIDAIR AT RELATIVELY LOW ALT. VMC PREVAILED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT EITHER PLT TOOK EVASIVE ACTION PRIOR TO THE COLLISION.
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 amateur-built Q2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 7,114 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 87 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,897 as pilot in command; 942 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 62 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, May 28, 1988; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Revmaster 2100-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 01V Watkins CO at 9:30 pm
- Destination: 01V
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,694 ft by 40 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 70 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:55 pm from BKF, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172K from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 914 hours in all; 61 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 914 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,219 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 18, 1988; 87 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Akron CO at 8:30 pm
- Destination: 01V Watkins CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,694 ft by 40 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.