Piper PA-34-200T and Cessna 150M mid-air collision near Newport Richey, Florida, January 23, 1982
On January 23, 1982 at about 8:34 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-34-200T (N32555) and Cessna 150M (N45453), were involved in a mid-air collision near Newport Richey, Florida. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 23, 1982 · about 8:34 pm local time
- Place
- Newport Richey, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-34-200T · all PA-34-200Ts on the register
- Registration
- N32555 · registry record · serial 34-7570032
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N45453 · no longer on the register · serial 150-76929
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-34-200T final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO THE HIDDEN LAKE AIRPORT WHICH WAS IN THE LOCAL AREA. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE ONE CIRCLE OVER THE AIRPORT AT 2300 FT. WHILE TURNING LEFT THROUGH A SOUTHWESTERLY HEADING, HE HEARD A LOUD THUMP. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE REALIZED THAT A COLLISION HAD OCCURRED WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, BUT BOTH LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE OTHER AIRCRAFT WAS A CESSNA 150, N45453, THAT HAD DEPARTED ORLANDO, FLORIDA ON A VFR FLIGHT TO TAMPA, FLORIDA.
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
THE PILOT DEPARTED ORLANDO, FLORIDA ON A VFR FLIGHT TO TAMPA, FLORIDA. AT ABOUT 1534 EST, THE PILOT CONTACTED TAMPA APPROACH CONTROL FOR VFR FLIGHT FOLLOWING. APPROACH CONTROL REPORTED RADAR CONTACT, AND AT THE SAME TIME, ISSUED AN ADVISORY, "TRAFFIC AT ELEVEN O'CLOCK, ONE MILE." THE PILOT REPORTED THAT A FEW SECONDS LATER, A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER AIRCRAFT OCCURRED FROM THE ABOVE, LEFT SIDE. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED, BUT BOTH LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. THE OTHER AIRCRAFT WAS A PIPER PA-34, N32555, IN A LEFT TURN OVER A LOCAL AIRPORT.
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-34-200T from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,500 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 15,500 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,746 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSI-360-E (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Clearwater FL at 2:30 pm
- Destination: Clearwater FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 169°F (76°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from TPA, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane
- Flight time: 90 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,240 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 2,200 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Astro Aviation, INC
The flight
- Departed from: Orlando FL at 1:00 pm
- Destination: Tampa FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.