Cessna 152 and Cessna 172N mid-air collision near Chandler, Arizona, September 21, 1989
On September 21, 1989 at about 4:25 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N714VX) and Cessna 172N (N6277D), were involved in a mid-air collision near Chandler, Arizona. No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT'S OF BOTH AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT'S OF BOTH AIRCRAFT TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VISUAL OUTLOOK FOR OTHER AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1989 · about 4:25 pm local time
- Place
- Chandler, Arizona
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- 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
- N714VX · no longer on the register · serial 152-79477
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N6277D · registry record · serial 172-72687
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 152 WITH ONE CREWMEMBER ON BOARD AND CONDUCTING VISUAL TRAINING AND A CESSNA 172N WITH TWO CREWMEMBERS ON BOARD AND CONDUCTING INSTRUMENT TRAINING COLLIDED IN FLIGHT. THE CESSNA 152 RETURNED TO ITS HOME AIRPORT WITHOUT INCIDENT AND THE CESSNA 172N WITH DAMAGED FLIGHT CONTROLS COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING.
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 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
A CESSNA 152 WITH ONE CREWMEMBER ON BOARD AND CONDUCTING VISUAL TRAINING AND A CESSNA 172N WITH TWO CREWMEMBERS ON BOARD AND CONDUCTING INSTRUMENT TRAINING COLLIDED IN FLIGHT. THE CESSNA 152 RETURNED TO ITS HOME AIRPORT WITHOUT INCIDENT AND THE CESSNA 172N WITH DAMAGED FLIGHT CONTROLS COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING.
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: 218 hours in all; 94 in this make and model; 51 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 195 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
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-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Button Aviation, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: P10 Chandler AZ at 4:20 pm
- Destination: P10
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Observation at 3:55 pm from CHD, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172N from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 440 hours in all; 154 in this make and model; 165 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days; 373 as pilot in command; 153 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-2AD (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 4:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Other NTSB records under N714VX the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number LAX89FA318.