Dassault-Breguet HU-25/A and Cessna 337D mid-air collision near Bimini, Bf, December 22, 1990
On December 22, 1990 at about 3:23 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Dassault-Breguet HU-25/A (USCG) and Cessna 337D (N156GB), were involved in a mid-air collision near Bimini. No one was hurt; 11 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.
INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRCRAFT, RESULTED IN THEIR FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID THE OTHER AIRCRAFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 1990 · about 3:23 pm local time
- Place
- Bimini, Burkina Faso
- Type
- Incident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 11 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Dassault-Breguet HU-25/A
- Registration
- USCG · no longer on the register · serial 394
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 337D · all 337Ds on the register
- Registration
- N156GB · registry record · serial 1100
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Dassault-Breguet HU-25/A final · quoted from the NTSB record
A US COAST GUARD DASSAULT BREGUET HU-25A WAS CLIMBING FROM LOW ALT AS A CESSNA 337D WAS CRUISING IN THE SAME AREA AT 4000 FT MSL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED. THE CESSNA PLT SAID HE WAS ADJUSTING HIS NAV RADIO TO INTERCEPT AN AIRWAY, WHEN A PSGR WARNED HIM OF THE SITUATION. AS HE LOOKED OUTSIDE, HE SAW THE DASSAULT CONVERGING AT A HI RATE OF SPEED. THE DASSAULT PLT SAID THEY WERE ROLLING OUT OF A LEFT TURN, WHEN THEY SAW THE CESSNA CONVERGING. THE PLTS OF BOTH ACFT INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION, BUT THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF THE DASSAULT HIT THE BAGGAGE POD ON THE CESSNA. BOTH PLANES CONTINUED FLYING & LANDED SAFELY.
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 337D final · quoted from the NTSB record
A US COAST GUARD DASSAULT BREGUET HU-25A WAS CLIMBING FROM LOW ALT AS A CESSNA 337D WAS CRUISING IN THE SAME AREA AT 4000 FT MSL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED. THE CESSNA PLT SAID HE WAS ADJUSTING HIS NAV RADIO TO INTERCEPT AN AIRWAY, WHEN A PSGR WARNED HIM OF THE SITUATION. AS HE LOOKED OUTSIDE, HE SAW THE DASSAULT CONVERGING AT A HI RATE OF SPEED. THE DASSAULT PLT SAID THEY WERE ROLLING OUT OF A LEFT TURN, WHEN THEY SAW THE CESSNA CONVERGING. THE PLTS OF BOTH ACFT INITIATED EVASIVE ACTION, BUT THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF THE DASSAULT HIT THE BAGGAGE POD ON THE CESSNA. BOTH PLANES CONTINUED FLYING & LANDED SAFELY.
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 Dassault-Breguet HU-25/A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,189 hours in all; 950 in this make and model; 98 in the last 90 days; 51 in the last 30 days; 169 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,685 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 2, 1990; 137 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 32,000 lb
- Seats: 9
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Garrett ATF 3 (turbofan); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OPF Opa Locka FL at 2:56 pm
- Destination: OPF Opa Locka FL
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 3:50 pm from MIA, 68 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 5 |
The factual record for the Cessna 337D from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,740 hours in all; 220 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days; 1,671 as pilot in command; 979 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 4,500 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO-360-D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYAN San Andros OF at 3:00 pm
- Destination: FLL Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 5 |
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.