Cessna 152 and Cessna 150 mid-air collision near Bethany, Oklahoma, September 15, 1989
On September 15, 1989 at about 10:25 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N94808) and Cessna 150 (N9347U), were involved in a mid-air collision near Bethany, Oklahoma (Wiley Post 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
FAILURE OF THE CESSNA 150 PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE CESSNA 152 (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT), AND FAILURE OF THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH TRAFFIC DENSITY, WHICH RESULTED IN FREQUENCY CONGESTION, AND FAILURE OF THE CESSNA 150 PILOT TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED TRAFFIC PATTERN PROCEDURES.
FAILURE OF THE CESSNA 150 PILOT TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE CESSNA 152 (INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT), AND FAILURE OF THE TOWER CONTROLLER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SERVICE. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: HIGH TRAFFIC DENSITY, WHICH RESULTED IN FREQUENCY CONGESTION, AND FAILURE OF THE CESSNA 150 PILOT TO FOLLOW ESTABLISHED TRAFFIC PATTERN PROCEDURES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1989 · about 10:25 pm local time
- Place
- Bethany, Oklahoma · Wiley Post · map
- Type
- Incident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N94808 · no longer on the register · serial 15285792
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N9347U · registry record · serial 15078296
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A MIDAIR COLLISION OF 2 ACFT OCCURRED AS THEY WERE ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 35L AT A CTLD ARPT. NUMEROUS INSTRUCTIONAL & NML ACFT OPNS WERE BEING CONDUCTED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. INITIALLY, THE PLTS OF BOTH ACFT WERE IN CTC WITH THE LCL CTLR & BOTH HAD RCVD APPROVAL FOR CLOSED TFC. THE PLT OF 1 ACFT (CESSNA 152, N94808) RCVD CLNC FOR A TOUCH & GO LNDG. THE PLT OF THE OTR ACFT (CESSNA 150, N9347U) HAD NOT COMMUNICATED WITH THE TWR FOR ABT 2 MIN BEFORE THE INCIDENT. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE CESSNA 152 WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APCH & THE CESSNA 150 PLT MADE A CONTINUOUS 180 DEG TURN FM DOWNWIND TO FINAL APCH. THE CESSNA 150 WAS RPRTD TO HAVE CONVERGED ON THE CESSNA 152 FROM ABOVE. DURING IMPACT, THE LNDG GEAR OF THE CESSNA 150 BROKE THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CESSNA 152. THE TWR CTLR DID NOT SEE THE COLLISION. WHEN SHE 1ST SIGHTED THE ACFT, THEY WERE SIDE-BY-SIDE. SHE THEN CLRD THE CESSNA 152 TO LAND & INSTRUCTED THE CESSNA 150 TO GO AROUND. SAMPLE OF CESSNA 150 PLT'S URINE (TAKEN NEXT DAY) SHOWED TRACE (72 NG/ML) OF CANNABINOID METABOLITE.
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 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A MIDAIR COLLISION OF 2 ACFT OCCURRED AS THEY WERE ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 35L AT A CTLD ARPT. NUMEROUS INSTRUCTIONAL & NML ACFT OPNS WERE BEING CONDUCTED AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. INITIALLY, THE PLTS OF BOTH ACT WERE IN CTC WITH THE LCL CTLR & BOTH HAD RCVD APPROVAL FOR CLOSED TFC. THE PLT OF 1 ACFT (CESSNA 152, N94808) RCVD CLNC FOR A TOUCH & GO LNDG. THE PLT OF THE OTR ACFT (CESSNA 150, N9347U) HAD NOT COMMUNICATED WITH THE TWR FOR ABT 2 MIN BEFORE THE INCIDENT. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE CESSNA 152 WAS ESTABLISHED ON FINAL APCH & THE CESSNA 150 PLT MADE A CONTINOUS 180 DEG TURN FM DOWNWIND TO FINAL APCH. THE CESSNA 150 WAS RPRTD TO HAVE CONVERGED ON THE CESSNA 152 FROM ABOVE. DURING IMPACT, THE LNDG GEAR OF THE CESSNA 150 BROKE THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CESSNA 152. THE TWR CTLR DID NOT SEE THE COLLISION. WHEN SHE 1ST SIGHTED THE ACFT, THEY WERE SIDE-BY-SIDE. SHE THEN CLRD THE CESSNA 152 TO LAND & INSTRUCTED THE CESSNA 150 TO GO AROUND. SAMPLE OF CESSNA 150 PLT'S URINE (TAKEN NEXT DAY) SHOWED TRACE (72 NG/ML) OF CANNABINOID METABOLITE.
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: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 25 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days; 10 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Abrams Aviation INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35L, 3,232 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:49 pm from PWA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 27 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 4 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Flight Training Center INC.
The flight
- Departed from: PWA at 10:10 pm
- Destination: PWA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35L, 3,232 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.