Cessna 152 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Lantana, Florida, May 2, 1987
On May 2, 1987 at about 1:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N152LG) and Cessna 152 (N67843), were involved in a mid-air collision near Lantana, Florida (Palm Beach County Park airport). 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
- May 2, 1987 · about 1:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · Palm Beach County Park · 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
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N152LG · no longer on the register · serial 15282249
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N67843 · no longer on the register · serial 15282052
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT WAS OVER THE THRESHOLD, WHEN THEY SAW AN AIRPLANE PASS OVER & DESCEND IN FRONT OF THEIR AIRCRAFT. HE TRIED TO AVOID HITTING IT BY TURNING TO THE RIGHT BUT THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE RUDDER, HE THEN ADDED FULL POWER AND WENT AROUND AND LANDED. A WITNESS THAT WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN STATED THAT HE SAW TWO 152 AIRCRAFT ON SHORT FINAL AND JUST AS HE CALLED OUT A WARNING ON THE RADIO THE AIRCRAFT THAT WAS SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THE OTHER 152 COLLIDED WITH IT AND THEN WENT AROUND AND LANDED SAFELY, THE OTHER 152 THEN BOUNCED, VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, HIT ANOTHER 152 THAT WAS HOLDING FOR TAKEOFF, ROLLED APRX 200 FT., HIT A DIRT MOUND, NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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 STATED THAT HE WAS AT 60 KTS. WITH FULL FLAPS & JUST ABOUT TO FLARE WHEN SOMTHING FORCED THE NOSE DOWN. HE THEN PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROLS, HIT THE GROUND, VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY & COLLIDED WITH A C152 THAT WAS HOLDING FOR TAKEOFF, ROLLED APRX 200 YARDS FURTHER, HIT A DRT MOUND, FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. A WITNESS THAT WAS IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN STATED THAT HE SAW TWO 152 ACFT ON SHORT FINAL & JUST AS HE CALLED OUT A WARNING ON THE RADIO THE ACFT THAT WAS SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT OF THE OTHER 152 COLLIDED WITH IT, THEN WENT AROUND & LANDED SAFELY, THE OTHER 152 THEN BOUNCED & VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, HIT ANOTHER 152 THAT WAS HOLDING FOR TAKEOFF, ROLLED APRX 200 YARDS, HIT A DIRT MOUND, FLIPPED OVER & CAME TO REST INVERTED.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,318 hours in all; 10 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,030 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 21, 1987; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,485 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:50 pm from PBI, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 52 hours in all; 52 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,747 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, October 17, 1986; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Chandelle Aviation CORP.
The flight
- Departed from: PBI West Palm Bch FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,485 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.