Cessna 150M and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Lantana, Florida, February 27, 1988
On February 27, 1988 at about 3:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150M (N66661) and Cessna 152 (N69133), were involved in a mid-air collision near Lantana, Florida (Palm Beach County Park airport). 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt. 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
- February 27, 1988 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Lantana, Florida · Palm Beach County Park · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150M · all 150Ms on the register
- Registration
- N66661 · no longer on the register · serial 15076191
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N69133 · no longer on the register · serial 15282505
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150M final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE INSTRUCTOR PILOT STATED THAT THE STUDENT WAS FLYING THE ACFT, & ON SHORT FINAL APCH, WHEN HE FELT THE COLLISION BETWEEN THE ACFT, HE TOOK OVER FROM THE STUDENT & LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD ON THE RUNWAY.
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 TURNED A LONG FINAL APCH DUE TO OTHER TRAFFIC IN THE PATTERN. HE ONLY SAW ONE OTHER ACFT IN FRONT OF HIM. HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET FROM THE END OF THE RUNWAY WHEN HE FELT THE IMPACT AS THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED. HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND, BUT DUE TO THE DAMAGED PROPELLER, HE COULD NOT GET ENOUGH POWER, SO HE LANDED IN FRONT OF THE OTHER ACFT & RAN INTO THE GRASS OFF THE SIDE OF THE RUNWAY.
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 150M 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,400 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,832 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 12, 1987; 70 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LNA Palm Beach FL at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 3,485 ft by 150 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:51 pm from PBI, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 63 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,585 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 30, 1987; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PBI W. Palm Beach FL at 2:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 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.