Piper PA-28-140 and Cessna 150M mid-air collision near San Diego, California, December 24, 1996
On December 24, 1996 at about 7:33 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-28-140 (N943R) and Cessna 150M (N63137), were involved in a mid-air collision near San Diego, California (Montgomery Field). 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot-in-command of the Piper PA-28, N943R, to maintain an adequate visual lookout to see and avoid the Cessna 150, N63137. A factor in the accident was the failure of the air traffic controller to issue a traffic advisory to the pilot concerning the Cessna 150.
The failure of the pilot-in-command of the Piper PA-28, N943R, to maintain an adequate visual lookout to see and avoid the Cessna 150, N63137. A factor in the accident was the failure of the air traffic controller to issue a traffic advisory to the pilot concerning the Cessna 150.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 24, 1996 · about 7:33 pm local time
- Place
- San Diego, California · Montgomery Field · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-28-140 · all PA-28-140s on the register
- Registration
- N943R · no longer on the register · serial 28-24855
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N63137 · no longer on the register · serial 15077129
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-28-140 final · quoted from the NTSB record
When the low wing Piper PA-28, N943R, contacted the tower 5 miles east of the airport, the tower controller pointed out the Cessna 150, N63137, at 11 o'clock, 2 miles, and instructed the pilot to fly southbound and report that aircraft in sight. The transmission was not acknowledged, and the Piper pilot flew southwest bound and never reported the Cessna in sight. When both aircraft were on a 3-mile final approach to parallel runways, the controller, with both aircraft in sight, issued a traffic advisory to the Cessna regarding the Piper behind them, but did not issue a traffic advisory to the Piper regarding the Cessna in front of them. The two aircraft collided in flight, 1.5 miles east of the airport. The Piper, with a student pilot in the left seat and a flight instructor in the right seat, overtook the high wing aircraft from above, behind and to the right. The lower fuselage of the Piper contacted the upper fuselage and propeller of the high wing aircraft. The Cessna's propeller severed the primary control cables of the Piper and it descended out of control and crashed. The Cessna made a off-airport forced landing and collided with a berm during the ground roll.
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 150M final · quoted from the NTSB record
When the low wing Piper PA-28, N943R, contacted the tower 5 miles east of the airport, the tower controller pointed out the Cessna 150, N63137, at 11 o'clock, 2 miles, and instructed the pilot to fly southbound and report that aircraft in sight. The transmission was not acknowledged, and the Piper pilot flew southwest bound and never reported the Cessna in sight. When both aircraft were on a 3-mile final approach to parallel runways, the controller, with both aircraft in sight, issued a traffic advisory to the Cessna regarding the Piper behind them, but did not issue a traffic advisory to the Piper regarding the Cessna in front of them. The two aircraft collided in flight, 1.5 miles east of the airport. The Piper, with a student pilot in the left seat and a flight instructor in the right seat, overtook the high wing aircraft from above, behind and to the right. The lower fuselage of the Piper contacted the upper fuselage and propeller of the high wing aircraft. The Cessna's propeller severed the primary control cables of the Piper and it descended out of control and crashed. The Cessna made a off-airport forced landing and collided with a berm during the ground roll.
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 Piper PA-28-140 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 360 hours in all; 24 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,153 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 10, 1996; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,150 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E3D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: MYF CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 3,399 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:48 pm from MYF, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 9,400 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 9,300 as pilot in command; 8,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,688 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 12, 1996; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L39 Ramona CA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: MYF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 28R, 4,600 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.