North American AT-6A and Cessna 150-J accident near Abilene, Texas, August 21, 1982
On August 21, 1982 at about 5:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, North American AT-6A (N42BA) and Cessna 150-J (N60157), were involved in the same accident near Abilene, Texas (Elmdale airport). 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 1982 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Abilene, Texas · Elmdale · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- North American AT-6A · all AT-6As on the register
- Registration
- N42BA · registry record · serial 89723
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150-J · all 150-Js on the register
- Registration
- N60157 · no longer on the register · serial 1507011
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the North American AT-6A final · quoted from the NTSB record
TWO AIRCRAFT, AN AT-6A A CESSNA 150J (N60157) ARRIVED AT ABILENE, TX AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME TO ATTEND AN AIRSHOW AT THE ELMDALE AIRPORT. THE AT-6A PILOT LANDED TOWARD THE NORTH ON THE GRASS TO THE EAST OF RUNWAY 35. THE CESSNA 150 WAS LANDED ON RUNWAY 17. AFTER LANDING, THE AT-6A PILOT TURNED LEFT TO PROCEED TO THE PARKING RAMP. AS THE AT-6A CROSSED THE RUNWAY, THE CESSNA 150J PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GO-AROUND TO AVOID A COLLISION. HOWEVER, THE MAIN GEAR OF THE CESSNA STRUCK THE RIGHT WING OF THE AT-6A. THE CESSNA THEN COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND, FLIPPED OVER AND WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE AT-6 RECEIVED MINOR DAMAGE.
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 150-J final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT LANDED ON RUNWAY AFTER THE T-6 LANDED ON GRASS TO RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY. THE T-6 TURNED TOWARD THE RAMP AND CROSSED PATH OF THE CESSNA ON THE RUNWAY. A COLLISION OCCURRED AS THE CESSNA PILOT TRIED TO GO-AROUND AND OVERFLY THE AT-6.
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 North American AT-6A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,798 hours in all; 186 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 5,158 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P & W R-1340-N1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Breckenridge TX at 1:00 pm
- Destination: C Abilene TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,000 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 208°F (98°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150-J from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 25,030 hours in all; 2 in the last 90 days; 25,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,793 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C Ranger TX at 10:30 am
- Destination: C Abilene TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,000 ft by 30 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N42BA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.