Cessna 152 and Aviat PITTS S-2B accident near Dallas, Texas, June 6, 1998
On June 6, 1998 at about 11:35 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N47354) and Aviat PITTS S-2B (N812BL), were involved in the same accident near Dallas, Texas (Addison 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 inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes.
The inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 6, 1998 · about 11:35 pm local time · cases in 1998
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · Addison · cases near this airport · 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 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N47354 · registry record · serial 15283220
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Aviat PITTS S-2B
- Registration
- N812BL · registry record · serial 5356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 152 collided with a Pitts S-2B while both airplanes were taxiing in daylight VFR weather conditions at a controlled airport. The collision occurred in an area that was not visible from the control tower. After landing, the Pitts was cleared to taxi to parking via taxiway U. The pilot of the Pitts observed the Cessna standing with its engine running on the ramp adjacent to the taxiway and heard the controller issue the Cessna a clearance to taxi for takeoff. According to the Pitts pilot, the Cessna did not move, and he assumed it was giving way and continued to taxi. The pilot of the Cessna reported that after receiving clearance to taxi for takeoff, he entered taxiway U and then observed the Pitts coming towards his airplane. Witnesses observed the two airplanes taxiing toward one another and reported that the Cessna pulled off the right side of the taxiway into the grass to avoid the collision; however, the left wing of the Pitts struck the left wing of the Cessna. The witnesses did not observe any attempt by the Pitts to avoid the collision.
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 Aviat PITTS S-2B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Cessna 152 collided with a Pitts S-2B while both airplanes were taxiing in daylight VFR weather conditions at a controlled airport. The collision occurred in an area that was not visible from the control tower. After landing, the Pitts was cleared to taxi to parking via taxiway U. The pilot of the Pitts observed the Cessna standing with its engine running on the ramp adjacent to the taxiway and heard the controller issue the Cessna a clearance to taxi for takeoff. According to the Pitts pilot, the Cessna did not move, and he assumed it was giving way and continued to taxi. The pilot of the Cessna reported that after receiving clearance to taxi for takeoff, he entered taxiway U and then observed the Pitts coming towards his airplane. Witnesses observed the two airplanes taxiing toward one another and reported that the Cessna pulled off the right side of the taxiway into the grass to avoid the collision; however, the left wing of the Pitts struck the left wing of the Cessna. The witnesses did not observe any attempt by the Pitts to avoid the collision.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 210 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,364 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 8, 1998; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Menagerie Enterprises, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: ADS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from DAL, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Aviat PITTS S-2B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,800 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 26 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 21, 1998; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TX05 Mckinney TX at 11:10 pm
- Destination: ADS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Other NTSB records under N47354 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N47354 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Cessna 152 1,636 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,677 aircraft on the register
- N812BL on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C 84 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540 434 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Addison Airport · nearest airport
- Bud Dryden Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Texas 6,244 since 1982 · 1,063 in the last ten years
- Texas 29,976 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N47354 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/FTW98LA317.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.