Cessna 180 and Piper PA-28-181 mid-air collision near Westerly, Rhode Island, November 16, 2003
On November 16, 2003 at about 6:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 180 (N34AG) and Piper PA-28-181 (N2885D), were involved in a mid-air collision near Westerly, Rhode Island (Westerly Airport). 2 people were killed; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Piper pilot's improper decision to continue a landing on an occupied runway, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the departing Cessna. Factors related to the accident were the departing Cessna pilot's inattentive radio communications, and the obscured visibility of the traffic pattern from the air and ground by trees located at the departure end of the runway.
The Piper pilot's improper decision to continue a landing on an occupied runway, which resulted in an in-flight collision with the departing Cessna. Factors related to the accident were the departing Cessna pilot's inattentive radio communications, and the obscured visibility of the traffic pattern from the air and ground by trees located at the departure end of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 16, 2003 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Westerly, Rhode Island · Westerly Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 180 · all 180s on the register
- Registration
- N34AG · registry record · serial 32561
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28-181 · all PA-28-181s on the register
- Registration
- N2885D · registry record · serial 28-7990520
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 180 final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the Piper, when he arrived in the airport area, a landing attempt was made to the runway; however, because he was to high on the approach, the pilot elected to abort the landing. The pilot remained in the left-hand traffic pattern, and announced all of his positions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). The pilot added that trees obscured the threshold portion of the runway, and the taxiway leading to the runway as he flew the left-hand traffic pattern. Upon turning final approach to land the second time, the pilot observed a tail-wheeled airplane "about to get onto runway 32." The airplane remained on the runway, and the pilot thought it would remain there until after he landed. The pilot continued the approach, and soon after he passed over the runway threshold, he heard the sound of another airplane's engine, followed by an impact with the airplane. The pilot observed the other airplane descend towards the ground, as he performed a forced landing to the runway. The Piper touched down hard on the runway, collapsing the right main landing gear assembly, and came to rest upright on a taxiway. The Cessna came to rest in a nose down attitude off to the right side of the runway. The pilot of the Piper did not recall hearing the Cessna make any transmissions on the CTAF frequency, but did recall hearing other aircraft make transmissions. Examination of the approach end area of the runway revealed trees, which paralleled the taxiway leading up to runway 32, visually obscured aircraft flying left-hand traffic patterns for the runway. Traffic in the air was not visible to an individual facing southeast until the traffic turned onto final approach. According to the Aeronautical Information Manual, paragraph 4-1-9. Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without Operating Control Towers, "Pilots of departing aircraft should monitor/communicate on the appropriate frequency from start-up, during taxi, and until 10 miles from the airport..." According to Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.113, Right-of-way rules, "Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface...
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-28-181 final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot of the Piper, when he arrived in the airport area, a landing attempt was made to the runway; however, because he was to high on the approach, the pilot elected to abort the landing. The pilot remained in the left-hand traffic pattern, and announced all of his positions on the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF). The pilot added that trees obscured the threshold portion of the runway, and the taxiway leading to the runway as he flew the left-hand traffic pattern. Upon turning final approach to land the second time, the pilot observed a tail-wheeled airplane "about to get onto runway 32." The airplane remained on the runway, and the pilot thought it would remain there until after he landed. The pilot continued the approach, and soon after he passed over the runway threshold, he heard the sound of another airplane's engine, followed by an impact with the airplane. The pilot observed the other airplane descend towards the ground, as he performed a forced landing to the runway. The Piper touched down hard on the runway, collapsing the right main landing gear assembly, and came to rest upright on a taxiway. The Cessna came to rest in a nose down attitude off to the right side of the runway. The pilot of the Piper did not recall hearing the Cessna make any transmissions on the CTAF frequency, but did recall hearing other aircraft make transmissions. Examination of the approach end area of the runway revealed trees, which paralleled the taxiway leading up to runway 32, visually obscured aircraft flying left-hand traffic patterns for the runway. Traffic in the air was not visible to an individual facing southeast until the traffic turned onto final approach. According to the Aeronautical Information Manual, paragraph 4-1-9. Traffic Advisory Practices at Airports Without Operating Control Towers, "Pilots of departing aircraft should monitor/communicate on the appropriate frequency from start-up, during taxi, and until 10 miles from the airport..." According to Federal Aviation Regulations Part 91.113, Right-of-way rules, "Aircraft, while on final approach to land or while landing, have the right-of-way over other aircraft in flight or operating on the surface..."
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 180 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,026 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Engines O-470 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WST Westerly RI at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,960 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; a few clouds at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from WST
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28-181 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 108 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 26 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 25, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,567 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 14, 2003; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IJD Windham CT at 6:00 pm
- Destination: WST Westerly RI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 3,960 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
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.