Cessna 150K and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Honolulu, Hawaii, February 9, 1989
On February 9, 1989 at about 3:52 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150K (N6149G) and Cessna 152 (N88TE), were involved in a mid-air collision near Honolulu, Hawaii (Honolulu Intl airport). 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE CONTROL TOWER SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL CONTROLLER (LC), AND FAILURE OF THE TWO PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER'S AIRCRAFT. RELATED FACTORS WERE: IDENTIFICATION OF THE WRONG AIRCRAFT BY THE LOCAL CONTROLLER, HIS EXCESSIVE WORKLOAD (HEAVY TRAFFIC), AND VISUAL PERCEPTION FROM THE LOCAL CONTROLLER'S POINT OF VIEW.
INADEQUATE CONTROL TOWER SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE LOCAL CONTROLLER (LC), AND FAILURE OF THE TWO PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER'S AIRCRAFT. RELATED FACTORS WERE: IDENTIFICATION OF THE WRONG AIRCRAFT BY THE LOCAL CONTROLLER, HIS EXCESSIVE WORKLOAD (HEAVY TRAFFIC), AND VISUAL PERCEPTION FROM THE LOCAL CONTROLLERS POINT OF VIEW.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 9, 1989 · about 3:52 am local time
- Place
- Honolulu, Hawaii · Honolulu Intl · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150K · all 150Ks on the register
- Registration
- N6149G · no longer on the register · serial 15071649
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N88TE · no longer on the register · serial 15284536
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150K final · quoted from the NTSB record
ATP PLT (AP) IN CESSNA 150 (C150), N6149G, APCHD ARPT FM EAST FOR STRAIGHT-IN LNDG AS STUDENT PLT (SP) IN CESSNA 152 (C152), N88TE, APCHD FM NW. TFC WAS HVY & PLT OF 3RD HI WING CESSNA (C172, N758ND) WAS INBND TO ENTER RGT TFC BHND C152 & LND ON RWY 22R. AT 1748:43, TWR CTLR (LC) CLRD C150 TO LND (STRAIGHT-IN) ON RWY 22L; 58 SEC LTR, SP (C152) CTCD TWR FOR LNDG INSTRN & ENTERED ANGLING DWNWND. WHEN SP CTCD TWR, LC SAW HI WING CESSNA (PROBABLY C172) NW OF ARPT, THOUGHT ITWAS SP'S C152 & CLRD SP TO LND ON RWY 22R. AT 1751:32, 3RD PLT (C172) CTCD TWR, REQD LNDG ON RWY 22R & WAS CLRD TO LND; 19 SEC LTR, JUST BFR TURNING TO BASE LEG, SP'S CLNC WAS CHGD TO LND ON RWY 22L. SUBSEQUENTLY, C150 & C152 COLLIDED, ABT 20 TO 30 FT AGL ON FINAL APCH FOR RWY 22L. THEY CONVERGED WHILE TRAVELING AT ABT SAME SPD. NEITHER PLT SAW OTR ACFT BFR ACDNT. LC HAD C150 IN SIGHT ON FINAL APCH, BUT INDCD HE ACTUALLY SAW C172, WHEN HE THOUGHT HE HAD C152 IN SIGHT. ALSO, HE NOTED THAT WITH DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING ON MTNS TO NORTH, ACFT FLYING NORTH OF ARPT BLENDED WITH BACKGROUND.
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
ATP PLT (AP) IN CESSNA 150 (C150), N6149G, APCHD ARPT FM EAST FOR STRAIGHT-IN LNDG AS STUDENT PLT (SP) IN CESSNA 152 (C152), N88TE, APCHD FM NW. TFC WAS HVY & PLT OF 3RD HI WING CESSNA (C172, N758ND) WAS INBND TO ENTER RGT TFC BHND C152 & LND ON RWY 22R. AT 1748:43, TWR CTLR (LC) CLRD C150 TO LND (STRAIGHT-IN) ON RWY 22L; 58 SEC LTR, SP (C152) CTCD TWR FOR LNDG INSTRN & ENTERED ANGLING DWNWND. WHEN SP CTCD TWR, LC SAW HI WING CESSNA (PROBABLY C172) NW OF ARPT, THOUGHT ITWAS SP'S C152 & CLRD SP TO LND ON RWY 22R. AT 1751:32, 3RD PLT (C172) CTCD TWR, REQD LNDG ON RWY 22R & WAS CLRD TO LND; 19 SEC LTR, JUST BFR TURNING TO BASE LEG, SP'S CLNC WAS CHGD TO LND ON RWY 22L. SUBSEQUENTLY, C150 & C152 COLLIDED, ABT 20 TO 30 FT AGL ON FINAL APCH FOR RWY 22L. THEY CONVERGED WHILE TRAVELING AT ABT SAME SPD. NEITHER PLT SAW OTR ACFT BFR ACDNT. LC HAD C150 IN SIGHT ON FINAL APCH, BUT INDCD HE ACTUALLY SAW C172, WHEN HE THOUGHT HE HAD C152 IN SIGHT. ALSO, HE NOTED THAT WITH DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING ON MTNS TO NORTH, ACFT FLYING NORTH OF ARPT BLENDED WITH BACKGROUND.
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 150K from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,246 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MKK Molakai HI at 3:00 am
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22L, 9,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 am from HNL
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
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 53 hours in all; 53 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 14 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eveland Aero
The flight
- Departed from: NPS Honolulu HI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22L, 9,000 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.