Boeing A75N1 and Piper PA-28-161 accident near Daytona Beach, Florida, May 15, 1990
On May 15, 1990 at about 6:05 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing A75N1 (N50072) and Piper PA-28-161 (N171ER), were involved in the same accident near Daytona Beach, Florida (Daytona Beach airport). No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING.
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE TO MAINTAIN A VISUAL LOOKOUT WHILE TAXIING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 15, 1990 · about 6:05 pm local time
- Place
- Daytona Beach, Florida · Daytona Beach · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 4 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing A75N1 · all A75N1s on the register
- Registration
- N50072 · no longer on the register · serial 75-925
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-161 · all PA-28-161s on the register
- Registration
- N171ER · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing A75N1 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE (BOEING A75N1, N50072) WAS SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT. WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RIGHT WING OF A PIPER PA-28, N171ER, WHILE ITS PILOT WAS PERFORMING A RUNUP. THE PILOT OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE OTHER AIRPLANE.
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 Piper PA-28-161 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE (BOEING A75N1, N50072) WAS SEATED IN THE REAR SEAT. WHILE TAXIING FOR TAKEOFF, THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE STRUCK THE RIGHT WING OF A PIPER PA-28, N171ER, WHILE ITS PILOT WAS PERFORMING A RUNUP. THE PILOT OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE OTHER AIRPLANE.
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 Boeing A75N1 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,400 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 1,300 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 4, 1989; 275 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental W-670-6N (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 6:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:58 pm from DAB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-161 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 961 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 120 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Embry Riddle University
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Dayton Beach FL at 6:05 pm
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| 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 N50072 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.