Cessna 152 and Cessna 150 mid-air collision near Valdosta, Georgia, August 25, 1984
On August 25, 1984 at about 1:09 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N25853) and Cessna 150 (N8270F), were involved in a mid-air collision near Valdosta, Georgia (Valdosta Municipal airport). 4 people were killed. 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
- August 25, 1984 · about 1:09 pm local time
- Place
- Valdosta, Georgia · Valdosta Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N25853 · registry record · serial 15280818
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 150 · all 150s on the register
- Registration
- N8270F · no longer on the register · serial 15064370
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED ABOUT A MILE EAST OF THE ARPT ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. ONE OF THE ACFT, N25853,CALLED VALDOSTA RADIO AND REPORTED LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 17.VALDOSTA ADVISED THAT ANOTHER ACFT HAD JUST DEPARTED RWY 17 2 MINUTES PRIOR. THE DEPARTING ACFT CALLED AND REPORTED ON LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 17 AND CLIMBING. HE ASKED THE POSITION OF N25853. VALDOSTA FSS THEN CALLED EACH ACFT IN TURN AND RECEIVED NO ANSWER.
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 150 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED ABOUT A MILE EAST OF THE ARPT ON THE DOWNWIND LEG OF THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. ONE OF THE ACFT, N25853,CALLED VALDOSTA RADIO AND REPORTED LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 17.VALDOSTA ADVISED THAT ANOTHER ACFT HAD JUST DEPARTED RWY 17 2 MINUTES PRIOR. THE DEPARTING ACFT CALLED AND REPORTED ON A LEFT DOWNWIND FOR RWY 17 AND CLIMBING. HE ASKED FOR POSITION OF N25853. VALDOSTA FSS THEN CALLED EACH ACFT IN TURN AND RECEIVED NO ANSWER.
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 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X05 Brookville FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,302 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: night, dark
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:30 am from VLD, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 150 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 148 hours in all; 148 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 114 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 2, 1984; 48 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: DAB Daytona Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 6,302 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.
Other NTSB records under N25853 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.