Curtiss-Wright SB2C-5 and Cessna 152 accident near New Orleans, Louisiana, December 8, 2001
On December 8, 2001 at about 9:32 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Curtiss-Wright SB2C-5 (N92879) and Cessna 152 (N48727), were involved in the same accident near New Orleans, Louisiana (Lakefront airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the Helldiver pilot's failure to maintain visual separation with the Cessna while taxiing. Contributing factors were the Cessna pilot's failure to comply with the local controller's instructions to continue taxiing and the failure of the local and ground controllers to monitor the position of the Cessna.
the Helldiver pilot's failure to maintain visual separation with the Cessna while taxiing. Contributing factors were the Cessna pilot's failure to comply with the local controller's instructions to continue taxiing and the failure of the local and ground controllers to monitor the position of the Cessna.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 2001 · about 9:32 pm local time
- Place
- New Orleans, Louisiana · Lakefront · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Curtiss-Wright SB2C-5
- Registration
- N92879 · registry record · serial 83589
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48727 · no longer on the register · serial 152-80938
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Curtiss-Wright SB2C-5 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot landed the Cessna (N48727) on runway 36R. She was advised by the local controller to exit the runway with a right turn at the next taxiway, which was taxiway Juliet, and to "keep taxiing, come up on ground." However, she stopped the airplane just past the hold short line on taxiway Juliet to perform her after landing checklist. After completing the checklist, she switched frequencies to ground control, but had not yet called the ground controller when her airplane's tail section was struck by the Helldiver's (N92879) propeller. The Helldiver was the first of three vintage aircraft to land on runway 36L and was held short of runway 36R on taxiway Juliet, due to the Cessna landing on 36R. According to the Helldiver pilot, "several minutes" after the Cessna had cleared runway 36R, he was cleared by ground control to taxi, via taxiway Juliet and Charlie, to parking. The Helldiver crossed runway 36R, and the Helldiver's propeller impacted the right elevator, right horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and the rudder of the stopped Cessna. The pilot of the Helldiver reported that he did not perform S-turns during the taxi, since the "taxiways are too narrow." Review of audio tapes revealed that there was a duty transfer between two ground controllers after the Cessna and Helldiver landed, but prior to the Helldiver receiving taxi instructions. The review also indicated that neither the local controller, nor either ground controller, attempted to contact the Cessna after the local controller issued the initial taxi instruction.
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 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot landed the Cessna (N48727) on runway 36R. She was advised by the local controller to exit the runway with a right turn at the next taxiway, which was taxiway Juliet, and to "keep taxiing, come up on ground." However, she stopped the airplane just past the hold short line on taxiway Juliet to perform her after landing checklist. After completing the checklist, she switched frequencies to ground control, but had not yet called the ground controller when her airplane's tail section was struck by the propeller of a Helldiver (N92879). The Helldiver was the first of three vintage aircraft to land on runway 36L and was held short of runway 36R on taxiway Juliet, due to the Cessna landing on 36R. According to the Helldiver pilot, "several minutes" after the Cessna had cleared runway 36R, he was cleared by ground control to taxi, via taxiways Juliet and Charlie, to parking. The Helldiver crossed runway 36R, and the Helldiver's propeller impacted the right elevator, right horizontal stabilizer, vertical stabilizer, and the rudder of the stopped Cessna. The pilot of the Helldiver reported that he did not perform S-turns during the taxi, since the "taxiways are too narrow." Review of audio tapes revealed that there was a duty transfer between two ground controllers after the Cessna and Helldiver had landed, but prior to the Helldiver receiving taxi instructions. The review also indicated that neither the local controller, nor either ground controller, attempted to contact the Cessna after the local controller issued the initial taxi instruction.
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 Curtiss-Wright SB2C-5 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 5,200 hours in all; 15 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 4,800 as pilot in command; 2,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 1, 2001; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 13,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Wright R-2600-20 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Confederate Air Force
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA at 9:05 pm
- Destination: New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36L, 6,879 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 75 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,885 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 26, 2001; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NEW New Orleans LA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: New Orleans LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36R, 3,699 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 FTW02LA047.