Cessna 152 and Cessna 182L mid-air collision near Noble, Oklahoma, May 25, 2000
On May 25, 2000 at about 11:12 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N45973) and Cessna 182L (N974SR), were involved in a mid-air collision near Noble, Oklahoma. 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout.
the failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2000 · about 11:12 pm local time
- Place
- Noble, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N45973 · no longer on the register · serial 15282969
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182L · all 182Ls on the register
- Registration
- N974SR · registry record · serial 18258925
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 152 departed the airport to the southeast for the local training area to practice commercial flight maneuvers. The Cessna 182 departed the same airport approximately 9 minutes after the Cessna 152 on a cross-country flight. Radar data depicted the Cessna 182 at an altitude of 2,000 feet agl heading to the southeast. Altitude data was not available from the Cessna 152, however, radar track data depicted a figure-eight pattern. At the time of the last radar returns, the targets were about 12 nm southeast of the departure airport, and the Cessna 152 was approximately 1/4 nm southeast of the Cessna 182. The Cessna 152 was heading to the west, and the Cessna 182 was heading to the southeast. The Cessna 152 spinner tip was found imbedded in the left main landing gear attachment point of the Cessna 182. The Cessna 182 left wing strut was severed 9 inches from the fuselage attachment point. The sever was perpendicular to the length of the strut. The Cessna 182's left wing was found between the Cessna 152 and Cessna 182 wreckage. The Cessna 182's left main landing gear and the Cessna 152's propeller were not located.
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 182L final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 152 departed the airport to the southeast for the local training area to practice commercial flight maneuvers. The Cessna 182 departed the same airport approximately 9 minutes after the Cessna 152 on a cross-country flight. Radar data depicted the Cessna 182 at an altitude of 2,000 feet agl heading to the southeast. Altitude data was not available from the Cessna 152, however, radar track data depicted a figure-eight pattern. At the time of the last radar returns, the targets were about 12 nm southeast of the departure airport, and the Cessna 152 was approximately 1/4 nm southeast of the Cessna 182. The Cessna 152 was heading to the west, and the Cessna 182 was heading to the southeast. The Cessna 152 spinner tip was found imbedded in the left main landing gear attachment point of the Cessna 182. The Cessna 182 left wing strut was severed 9 inches from the fuselage attachment point. The sever was perpendicular to the length of the strut. The Cessna 182's left wing was found between the Cessna 152 and Cessna 182 wreckage. The Cessna 182's left main landing gear and the Cessna 152's propeller were not located.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 170 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,197 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 26, 2000; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OUN Norman OK at 10:56 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Wind: from 080° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,700 ft
- Temperature: 174°F (79°C), dew point 163°F (73°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from OKC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,979 hours in all; 22 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 11, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-R (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OUN Norman OK at 11:04 pm
- Destination: F39 Sherman TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number FTW00FA154.