Piper PA-22 and Cessna A188B mid-air collision near Big Spring, Texas, October 29, 2002
On October 29, 2002 at about 8:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-22 (N1456A) and Cessna A188B (N8811G), were involved in a mid-air collision near Big Spring, Texas (Big Spring Mcmahon-Wrinkle airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of both pilots to maintain visual separation with each other. Factors were the Piper pilot's nonstandard traffic pattern and the Cessna pilot's inability to listen to or make radio transmissions.
the failure of both pilots to maintain visual separation with each other. Factors were the Cessna pilot's inability to listen to or make radio transmissions and the Piper pilot's nonstandard traffic pattern.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 29, 2002 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Big Spring, Texas · Big Spring Mcmahon-Wrinkle · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-22 · all PA-22s on the register
- Registration
- N1456A · registry record · serial 22-359
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna A188B · all A188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8811G · no longer on the register · serial 18801312-T
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-22 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Piper flew to the destination airport and entered a right hand traffic pattern. The pilot made at least three position reports on the non-towered airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). The pilot of a Cessna completed an aerial application flight, returned to the destination airport, and entered a left hand traffic pattern. The Cessna was not equipped with radios, and therefore was unable to make position reports, or listen to other pilots making position reports on the airport's CTAF. According to a witness, the airplanes turned on to the final approach leg simultaneously and collided approximately 150 feet agl. The Piper continued straight ahead and landed. The Cessna circled around, reentered the traffic pattern, and landed. The published traffic pattern is to the left. The Aeronautical Information Manual recommends that pilot's monitor appropriate control frequencies so that a mental picture of surrounding traffic can be maintained.
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 A188B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Piper flew to the destination airport and entered a right hand traffic pattern. The pilot made at least three position reports on the non-towered airport's common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF). The pilot of a Cessna completed an aerial application flight, returned to the destination airport, and entered a left hand traffic pattern. The Cessna was not equipped with radios, and therefore was unable to make position reports, or listen to other pilots making position reports on the airport's CTAF. According to a witness, the airplanes turned on to the final approach leg simultaneously and collided approximately 150 feet agl. The Piper continued straight ahead and landed. The Cessna circled around, reentered the traffic pattern, and landed. The published traffic pattern is to the left. The Aeronautical Information Manual recommends that pilot's monitor appropriate control frequencies so that a mental picture of surrounding traffic can be maintained.
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 Piper PA-22 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 161 hours in all; 79 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 123 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 10, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,962.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 9, 2001; 73.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,893 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HOB Hobbs NM at 6:30 pm
- Destination: T49 Big Springs TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,601 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from MAF, 37 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna A188B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,500 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 7,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 15, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,864 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 2002; 89 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D9B (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: T49 Big Spring TX at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 4,601 ft by 75 ft
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.
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.