Cessna 150 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Temple, Texas, June 23, 1985
On June 23, 1985 at about 9:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150 (N8496J) and Cessna 152 (N48891), were involved in a mid-air collision near Temple, Texas (Draughon-Miller airport). 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured. 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
- June 23, 1985 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Temple, Texas · Draughon-Miller · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed and 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N8496J · no longer on the register · serial 15066396
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N48891 · no longer on the register · serial 15281033
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED BETWEEN A CESSNA 150 IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND A CESSNA 152 ON A LONG LOW FINAL TO THE SAME RUNWAY. THE CESSNA 152'S RADIO WAS MISTUNED, AND THE CESSNA 150 HAD NO RADIO INSTALLED. NEITHER COULD HAVE HEARD WARNINGS BROADCAST BY ANOTHER AIRCRAFT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE CESSNA 152 CAME BETWEEN THE CESSNA 150 AND THE SUN DURING THE LAST MINUTE OF THE FLIGHT. THE CESSNA 150 WAS HIDDEN FROM THE CESSNA 152'S PILOT'S VIEW BY THE LEFT WING. NO OBSTRUCTION WAS FOUND TO ACCOUNT FOR EITHER AIRCRAFT NOT SEEING AND AVOIDING THE OTHER PRIOR TO THOSE POSITIONS.
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
A MIDAIR COLLISION OCCURRED BETWEEN A CESSNA 150 IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN AND A CESSNA 152 ON A LONG LOW FINAL TO THE SAME RUNWAY. THE CESSNA 152'S RADIO WAS MISTUNED, AND THE CESSNA 150 HAD NO RADIO INSTALLED. NEITHER COULD HAVE HEARD WARNINGS BROADCAST BY ANOTHER AIRCRAFT. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE CESSNA 152 CAME BETWEEN THE CESSNA 150 AND THE SUN DURING THE LAST MINUTE OF THE FLIGHT. THE CESSNA 150 WAS HIDDEN FROM THE CESSNA 152'S PILOT'S VIEW BY THE LEFT WING. NO OBSTRUCTION WAS FOUND TO ACCOUNT FOR EITHER AIRCRAFT NOT SEEING AND AVOIDING THE OTHER PRIOR TO THOSE POSITIONS.
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 150 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 2,800 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 22, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ILE Killeen TX at 9:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,300 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from TPL, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 24 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 3 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,327 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 18, 1985; 5 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: ILE Killeen TX at 8:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 6,300 ft by 150 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.