Cessna 150L and Cessna A185F mid-air collision near Yerington, Nevada, November 12, 1998
On November 12, 1998 at about 6:43 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150L (N19281) and Cessna A185F (N204D), were involved in a mid-air collision near Yerington, Nevada (Yerington Municipal airport). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilot of Cessna 185 to see and avoid the preceding airplane, which was already established in the traffic pattern. A factor was the failure of both pilots to announce their intentions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency.
the failure of the pilot to see and avoid the aircraft ahead, which was already established in the traffic pattern. The failure of both pilots announce their intentions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency was a factor in this accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 1998 · about 6:43 pm local time
- Place
- Yerington, Nevada · Yerington Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N19281 · no longer on the register · serial 15074300
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna A185F · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N204D · registry record · serial 18503460
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150L final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident sequence was observed by airborne and ground witnesses. Both aircraft departed on runway 19. N19281, a Cessna 150L, departed first and made a slight dog-leg to the right in accordance with a local noise abatement procedure. N204D, a Cessna A185F, departed next and proceeded straight out on the upwind leg. The 150 was in a crosswind turn as the 185 began to close in from the 150's 7 o'clock position. The 150 was already in a left turn to downwind as the 185 began a left crosswind turn. The 185, the faster of the two, turned inside and continued in 180-degree crosswind turn until catching up and colliding with the 150. The 185 struck the empennage and left main gear of the 150 with its propeller and left wing, disintegrating the empennage. Comparison of the marks and damage on both aircraft confirmed the witness observations of the collision. The radio in the 150 was found in the 'on' position and was tuned to the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) for the airport while the radio in the 185 was destroyed in the collision and postimpact fire. No transmissions were heard on the CTAF from either aircraft by any ground or airborne witness.
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 A185F final · quoted from the NTSB record
The accident sequence was observed by airborne and ground witnesses. Both aircraft departed on runway 19. N19281, a Cessna 150L, departed first and made a slight dog-leg to the right in accordance with a local noise abatement procedure. N204D, a Cessna A185F, departed next and proceeded straight out on the upwind leg. The 150 was in a crosswind turn as the 185 began to close in from the 150's 7 o'clock position. The 150 was already in a left turn to downwind as the 185 began a left crosswind turn. The 185, the faster of the two, turned inside and continued in 180-degree crosswind turn until catching up and colliding with the 150. The 185 struck the empennage and left main gear of the 150 with its propeller and left wing, disintegrating the empennage. Comparison of the marks and damage on both aircraft confirmed the witness observations of the collision. The radio in the 150 was found in the 'on' position and was tuned to the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) for the airport while the radio in the 185 was destroyed in the collision and postimpact fire. No transmissions were heard on the CTAF from either aircraft by any ground or airborne witness.
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 150L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,400 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1997; 63 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200-A48 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O43 NV at 6:41 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 5,000 ft; scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 39°F (4°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from RNO, 42 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna A185F 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: 24,723 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 1998
- Maximum gross weight: 3,350 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-520-D (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: O43 NV at 6:42 pm
- Destination: CXP Carson City NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,800 ft by 75 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.