Cessna 152 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Panama City, Florida, September 13, 1985
On September 13, 1985 at about 3:20 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N4894B) and Cessna 152 (N757HM), were involved in a mid-air collision near Panama City, Florida (Panama City airport). No one was hurt; 2 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
- September 13, 1985 · about 3:20 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida · Panama City · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N4894B · no longer on the register · serial 15283695
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N757HM · registry record · serial 15279753
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF 757HM STATED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD HE WAS SECOND TO LAND SO HE PROCEEDED TO TURN FINAL UNKNOWINGLY CUTTING OFF THREE OTHER ACFT ON FINAL APCH TO RWY 05. THE TOWER TOLD HIM 'BREAK LEFT THERE IS TWO ACFT ON FINAL' HE APPLIED POWER TO GO AROUND AND STOPPED HIS SINK RATE JUST HAS HE CONTACTED THE TOP OF 4894B. HE THEN WENT AROUND AND ON HIS NEXT APCH WAS TOLD HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO HIS TRAFFIC AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO GO AROUND AGAIN AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PLT OF 757 HM STATED THAT HE UNDERSTOOD HE WAS SECOND TO LAND SO HE PROCESSED TO TURN FINAL UNKNOWNINGLY CUTTING OFF THREEOTHER ACFT ON FINAL APCH TO TWY 05. THE TOWER TOLD HIM 'BREAK LEFT THERE IS TWO ACFT ON FINAL', HE APPLIED POWER TO GO AROUND AND STOPPED HIS SINK RATE JUST AS HE CONTACTED THE TOP OF 4894B. HE THEN WENT AROUND AND ON HIS NNEXT APCH WAS TOLD HE WAS TOO CLOSE TO HIS TRAFFIC AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO GO AROUND AGAIN AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT.
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: 160 hours in all; 160 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 68 in the last 30 days; 95 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,756 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 26, 1985; 39 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,888 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:15 pm from PFN
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 16 hours in all; 16 in this make and model; 13 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,914 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 31, 1985; 84 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 5, 4,888 ft by 150 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.