Cessna 172S and Cessna 182T accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, November 3, 2011
On November 3, 2011 at about 5:49 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172S (N1855Y) and Cessna 182T (N2182F), were involved in the same accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Fort Lauderdale Executive airport). No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Cessna 172 flight instructor and student pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from the stationary Cessna 182.
The Cessna 172 flight instructor and student pilot's inadequate visual lookout and failure to maintain clearance from the stationary Cessna 182.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 3, 2011 · about 5:49 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Fort Lauderdale Executive · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 5 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172S · all 172Ss on the register
- Registration
- N1855Y · no longer on the register · serial 172S9924
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182T · all 182Ts on the register
- Registration
- N2182F · registry record · serial 18281340
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172S final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 182 pilot started the engine, moved the airplane forward about 5 feet to test the brakes, and then stopped. The Cessna 172 student pilot was taxiing to a tie-down spot and taxied in front of the Cessna 182. The flight instructor in the Cessna 172 verified that the student taxiing the airplane stayed on the centerline of the taxiway and maintained right wingtip clearance. As the Cessna 172 taxied past the stationary Cessna 182, the outboard section of the left wing impacted the propeller of the Cessna 182, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing.
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 182T final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 182 pilot started the engine, moved the airplane forward about 5 feet to test the brakes, and then stopped. The Cessna 172 student pilot was taxiing to a tie-down spot and taxied in front of the Cessna 182. The flight instructor in the Cessna 172 verified that the student taxiing the airplane stayed on the centerline of the taxiway and maintained right wingtip clearance. As the Cessna 172 taxied past the stationary Cessna 182, the outboard section of the left wing impacted the propeller of the Cessna 182, which resulted in substantial damage to the wing.
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 172S from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Flight crew
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 295 hours in all; 261 in this make and model; 79 in the last 90 days; 70 in the last 30 days; 206 as pilot in command; 68 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 22, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 35 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,231 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 14, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airborne Systems
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from FXE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182T from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: foreign licence, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 190 hours in all; 24 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 14, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 619 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 59 in the last 90 days; 27 in the last 30 days; 528 as pilot in command; 209 on instruments
- Last flight review: March 29, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,700 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 24, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Airborne Systems
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 | |||
| 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.