Cessna 150G and Cessna 172L accident near Knoxville, Tennessee, January 8, 2022
On January 8, 2022 at about 9:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150G (N1308U) and Cessna 172L (N19710), were involved in the same accident near Knoxville, Tennessee (Knoxville Downtown Island airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot of the Cessna 150’s failure to avoid the taxiing Cessna 172.
The pilot of the Cessna 150’s failure to avoid the taxiing Cessna 172.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 8, 2022 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Knoxville, Tennessee · Knoxville Downtown Island · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150G NO SERIES, built 1966 · all 150Gs on the register
- Registration
- N1308U · registry record · serial 15065444
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172L, built 1972 · all 172Ls on the register
- Registration
- N19710 · registry record · serial 17260691
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150G final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two airplanes were taxiing when a ground collision occurred. According to the pilot of the Cessna 172, he was taxiing towards the run-up area, when he saw the engine start of a Cessna 150. He said it was stationary in a parking spot facing the taxiway as he proceeded forward. As he continued to taxi, he saw the right wing of the Cessna 150 pass under his wing toward his airplane. As he tried to avoid a collision, the right wing tip collided with the windscreen. During the collision the right aileron of the Cessna 150 sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot of the Cessna 150, he was preparing to exit the ramp area and taxi to runway 08. After making a radio call, he checked the taxiway for other aircraft, and said his sight was limited due to an airplane that was parked next to him. He said that he checked to see if any airplanes were on the taxiway and did not see any. He pulled out onto the taxiway and felt a slight bump when the Cessna 172 struck his airplane from behind. Both pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 172L final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two airplanes were taxiing when a ground collision occurred. According to the pilot of the Cessna 172, he was taxiing towards the run-up area, when he saw the engine start of a Cessna 150. He said it was stationary in a parking spot facing the taxiway as he proceeded forward. As he continued to taxi, he saw the right wing of the Cessna 150 pass under his wing toward his airplane. As he tried to avoid a collision, the right wing tip collided with the windscreen. During the collision the right aileron of the Cessna 150 sustained substantial damage. According to the pilot of the Cessna 150, he was preparing to exit the ramp area and taxi to runway 08. After making a radio call, he checked the taxiway for other aircraft, and said his sight was limited due to an airplane that was parked next to him. He said that he checked to see if any airplanes were on the taxiway and did not see any. He pulled out onto the taxiway and felt a slight bump when the Cessna 172 struck his airplane from behind. Both pilots reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 150G from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,106 hours in all; 24 in this make and model; 49 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: July 14, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 203 hours in all; 203 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,484 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 5, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from DKX
Weather report (METAR): METAR KDKX 082215Z AUTO 13004KT 10SM CLR 06/M02 A3037 RMK A01
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 121 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 25 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 18, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,824.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 12, 2021; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 1,040 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on May 25, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 N19710 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 N1308U | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record FAA Damage Assessment | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.