Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 and Cessna 172E accident near Ramona, California, April 29, 1989
On April 29, 1989 at about 9:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 (N6220L) and Cessna 172E (N31303), were involved in the same accident near Ramona, California (Ramona 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 PILOTS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT DURING TAXI TO TAKEOFF WHICH RESULTED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT WAS PARKED IN THE RUNUP AREA.
THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT DID NOT MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND COLLIDED WITH THIS CESSNA THAT WAS PARKED IN THE RUNUP AREA.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 1989 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ramona, California · Ramona · 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
- Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 · all 2T-1A-2s on the register
- Registration
- N6220L · no longer on the register · serial 0732
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172E · all 172Es on the register
- Registration
- N31303 · no longer on the register · serial 17250609
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING TO THE RUNWAY, A GREAT LAKES COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 172 THAT WAS PARKED IN THE RUNUP AREA. THE PILOT OF THE GREAT LAKES REPORTED THAT HE WAS SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT AND FORWARD VISIBILITY IS RESTRICTED. THE GREAT LAKES COLLIDED WITH THE RIGHT REAR OF THE CESSNA.
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 172E final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE TAXIING TO THE RUNWAY, A GREAT LAKES COLLIDED WITH A CESSNA 172 THAT WAS PARKED IN THE RUNUP AREA. THE PILOT OF THE GREAT LAKES REPORTED THAT HE WAS SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT AND FORWARD VISIBLITY IS RESTRICTED. THE GREAT LAKES COLLIDED WITH THE CESSNA FROM THE RIGHT REAR.
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 Great Lakes 2T-1A-2 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 391 hours in all; 96 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 275 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,280 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 1989; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,580 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEI0-360-B1G6 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172E from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane
- Flight time: 2,999 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2,969 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,320 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1989; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-300 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 4,000 ft by 150 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.