Cessna 172P and amateur-built HK 36R SUPER DIMONA mid-air collision near Mesa, Arizona, May 30, 1999
On May 30, 1999 at about 3:54 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172P (N66018) and amateur-built HK 36R SUPER DIMONA (N1066F), were involved in a mid-air collision near Mesa, Arizona (Falcon Field). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the tower (local) air traffic controller to issue a landing sequence to the climbing, high wing Cessna 172 aircraft, and the controller's failure to maintain visual separation between the two aircraft on downwind leg.
The failure of the tower (local) air traffic controller to issue a landing sequence to the climbing, high wing Cessna 172 aircraft, and, the controller's failure to maintain visual separation between the two aircraft on downwind leg.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 30, 1999 · about 3:54 pm local time
- Place
- Mesa, Arizona · Falcon Field · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172P · all 172Ps on the register
- Registration
- N66018 · registry record · serial 17275949
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built HK 36R SUPER DIMONA HK 36R SUP
- Registration
- N1066F · no longer on the register · serial 36404
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172P final · quoted from the NTSB record
The midair collision occurred on downwind leg while both aircraft were in the touch-and-go landing pattern at the tower-controlled airport. This high-wing aircraft, which had completed three touch-and-go patterns, climbed up under the low wing aircraft prior to the collision. Both aircraft landed safely. The investigation revealed that the pilot of this aircraft had not been issued a landing sequence or a traffic advisory by the air traffic controller, and, the pilot believed he was following another high wing aircraft well ahead of them on downwind. The local air traffic controller acknowledged that he had become confused with the sequence of landing aircraft and had not issued a landing sequence or traffic advisory to this aircraft. There were six aircraft in the landing pattern and five more awaiting departure. The accident occurred during daylight hours and there were high, scattered clouds and visibility of 40 statute miles.
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 amateur-built HK 36R SUPER DIMONA final · quoted from the NTSB record
The midair collision occurred on downwind leg while both aircraft were in the touch-and-go landing pattern at the tower controlled airport. The high-wing Cessna 172 aircraft, which had completed three prior touch-and-go patterns, climbed up under this low wing motor glider prior to the collision. Both aircraft landed safely. The investigation revealed that the pilot of the Cessna 172 had not been issued a landing sequence or traffic advisory by the air traffic controller, and the pilot believed he was following another high wing aircraft well ahead of them on downwind. The local air traffic controller acknowledged that he had become confused with the sequence of landing aircraft and had not issued a landing sequence to the Cessna 172. There were six aircraft in the landing pattern and five more awaiting departure. The accident occurred during daylight hours and there were high, scattered clouds and a visibility of 40 statute miles.
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 172P 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; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,060 hours in all; 540 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 44 in the last 30 days; 990 as pilot in command; 750 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,745 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 26, 1999; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,400 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2J (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SDL Scottsdale AZ at 3:30 pm
- Destination: FFZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4R, 5,100 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from FFZ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the amateur-built HK 36R SUPER DIMONA 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: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,077 hours in all; 450 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 2,000 as pilot in command; 733 on instruments
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 142 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 16, 1998; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,698 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier 912-A2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FFZ at 3:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 4L, 3,800 ft by 75 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.