Cessna 421B and Cessna 152 accident near Stillwater, Oklahoma, July 2, 1996
On July 2, 1996 at about 3:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 421B (N450SU) and Cessna 152 (N94532), were involved in the same accident near Stillwater, Oklahoma (Stillwater airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilots of the Cessna 421B, N450SU, and the Cessna 152, N94532, to maintain visual lookout. Factors were: the inadequate radio communications maintained by both pilots, and the failure of the student pilot of the Cessna 152 to take evasive action.
the failure of the pilots of the Cessna 421B, N450SU, and the Cessna 152, N94532, to maintain visual lookout. Factors were: the inadequate radio communications maintained by both pilots, and the failure of the student pilot of the Cessna 152 to take evasive action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 1996 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Stillwater, Oklahoma · Stillwater · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 421B · all 421Bs on the register
- Registration
- N450SU · registry record · serial 421B0808
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N94532 · registry record · serial 15285707
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 421B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna 421B, N450SU, was making a full stop landing on runway 17. The Cessna 152, N94532, flown by a student pilot on his second supervised solo, had landed on runway 22. During their respective landing rolls, the two airplanes collided at the intersection of runways 17 and 22. The uncontrolled airport was equipped with Unicom service, which was reported to be operational at the time of the accident. Both airplanes were equipped with operational 2-way radios, and both pilots stated that they announced their intentions prior to landing. A witness at the airport observed the collision. He stated that the Cessna 152 landed long and maintained a high rate of speed during the landing roll on runway 22. The Cessna 152 stayed on the runway centerline, and began to veer to the right as it approached the intersection. He also reported that he observed the Cessna 421 applying heavy braking, as he tried to veer to the right to avoid the Cessna 152.
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 pilot of the Cessna 421B, N450SU, was making a full stop landing on runway 17. The Cessna 152, N94532, flown by a student pilot on his second supervised solo, had landed on runway 22. During their respective landing rolls, the two airplanes collided at the intersection of runways 17 and 22. The uncontrolled airport was equipped with Unicom service, which was reported to be operational at the time of the accident. Both airplanes were equipped with operational 2-way radios, and both pilots stated that they announced their intentions prior to landing. A witness at the airport observed the collision. He stated that the Cessna 152 landed long and maintained a high rate of speed during the landing roll on runway 22. The Cessna 152 stayed on the runway centerline, and began to veer to the right as it approached the intersection. He also reported that he observed the Cessna 421 applying heavy braking, as he tried to veer to the right to avoid the Cessna 152.
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 421B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,100 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 6,500 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,322 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1995; 124 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,200 lb
- Seats: 7
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental GTSIO-520-H (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SWO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,002 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:52 pm from PWA
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 20 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 18 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,169 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 1996; 88 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-N2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Osu Aviation Center
The flight
- Departed from: SWO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 5,002 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.