Piper PA-30 and Cessna 152 mid-air collision near Parkland, Florida, December 8, 2007
On December 8, 2007 at about 7:54 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-30 (N766CC) and Cessna 152 (N24478), were involved in a mid-air collision near Parkland, Florida. 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing to the accident were the erroneous readouts from the Cessna's altitude encoder.
Both pilots' failure to see and avoid the other airplane. Contributing to the accident were the erroneous readouts from the Cessna's altitude encoder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 8, 2007 · about 7:54 pm local time
- Place
- Parkland, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-30 · all PA-30s on the register
- Registration
- N766CC · no longer on the register · serial 30-325
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N24478 · no longer on the register · serial 15280275
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-30 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A low-wing, twin-engine Piper PA-30, piloted by a certificated private pilot, was operating on an instrument-flight-rules flight plan. A high-wing, single-engine Cessna 152, piloted by a certificated student pilot, was operating on a visual-flight-rules solo instructional flight. The Cessna student pilot was not communicating with air traffic control, nor was he required to. Both airplanes were operating in visual meteorological conditions. Both airplanes were also level at 2,000 feet, although, for undetermined reasons, the altitude encoder of the Cessna indicated that the airplane was 200 feet higher. The air traffic controller controlling the Piper advised the pilot of the presence of traffic, that was ultimately determined to be the Cessna, and the pilot responded that he was looking for it. The controller then turned his attention to other air traffic, and about 1 minute later again advised the Piper pilot of the traffic at 2,200 feet. Immediately after the transmission, a mid-air collision occurred between the two airplanes. Radar data revealed that between the two callouts by the controller, the Cessna had altered its course from a general heading of 220 degrees magnetic to a heading of 177 degrees magnetic. Sun position, about the time of the accident, was 27 degrees above the horizon, bearing about 227 degrees; however, the extent to which the sun factored in the Cessna student pilot's ability to see the Piper is unknown. The Piper pilot was required to wear corrective lenses, however it could not be determined if he was wearing corrective lenses at the time of the accident.
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
A low-wing, twin-engine Piper PA-30, piloted by a certificated private pilot, was operating on an instrument-flight-rules flight plan. A high-wing, single-engine Cessna 152, piloted by a certificated student pilot, was operating on a visual-flight-rules solo instructional flight. The Cessna student pilot was not communicating with air traffic control, nor was he required to. Both airplanes were operating in visual meteorological conditions. Both airplanes were also level at 2,000 feet, although, for undetermined reasons, the altitude encoder of the Cessna indicated that the airplane was 200 feet higher. The air traffic controller controlling the Piper advised the pilot of the presence of traffic, that was ultimately determined to be the Cessna, and the pilot responded that he was looking for it. The controller then turned his attention to other air traffic, and about 1 minute later again advised the Piper pilot of the traffic at 2,200 feet. Immediately after the transmission, a mid-air collision occurred between the two airplanes. Radar data revealed that between the two callouts by the controller, the Cessna had altered its course from a general heading of 220 degrees magnetic to a heading of 177 degrees magnetic. Sun position, about the time of the accident, was 27 degrees above the horizon, bearing about 227 degrees; however, the extent to which the sun factored in the Cessna student pilot's ability to see the Piper is unknown. The Piper pilot was required to wear corrective lenses, however it could not be determined if he was wearing corrective lenses at the time of the accident.
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 Piper PA-30 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 3,600 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming IO-320 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCF Ocala FL at 6:29 pm
- Destination: PMP Pompano Beach FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from PMP, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 100 hours in all; 26 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 30, 2007
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming 0-235 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Rohan Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: LNA Lantana FL at 7:25 pm
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: none
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.