Cessna 152 and amateur-built SA-300 accident near Mansfield, Massachusetts, July 25, 1984
On July 25, 1984, 2 aircraft, Cessna 152 (N49985) and amateur-built SA-300 (N8172), were involved in the same accident near Mansfield, Massachusetts. 3 people had minor injuries. 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
- July 25, 1984
- Place
- Mansfield, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 3 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 152 · all 152s on the register
- Registration
- N49985 · no longer on the register · serial 15281426
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built SA-300
- Registration
- N8172 · registry record · serial RJB-2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N49985 LANDED ON RWY 32 AND TURNED OFF RWY AT MIDFIELD INTERSECTION. ACFT CAME TO FULL STOP TO RETRACT FLAPS AND TURN OFF CARB HEAT. PLT STATED A CHECK FOR OTHER TRAFFIC WAS MADE AT THIS TIME. STUDENT PLT BEGAN TAXIING TO RAMP WITH LANDING LIGHT OFF, NAV LIGHTS AND BEACON ON. N8172 WAS TAXIING TO RWY 32 FOR TAKEOFF. PLT STATED HE SAW N49985 LAND AND TAKE THE FIRST TAXIWAY TURN OFF. HE STATED HE WAS MAKING 'S' TURNS BUT DID NOT SEE N49985 TURN ONTO THE TAXIWAY. THE CFI IN N49985 INITIATED A SHARP RIGHT TURN WHEN HE SAW N8172 COMING TOWARD HIM BUT WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE COLLISION. THE NOSE SECTION OF N1872 CONTACTED THE LEFT SIDE OF N49985.
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 amateur-built SA-300 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N49985 LANDED ON RWY 32 AND TURNED OFF RWY AT MIDFIELD INTERSECTION. ACFT CAME TO FULL STOP TO RETRACT FLAPS AND TURN OFF CARB HEAT. PLT STATED A CHECK FOR OTHER TRAFFIC WHO MADE AT THIS TIME. STUDENT PLT BEGAN TAXIING TO RAMP WITH LANDING LIGHT OFF, NAV LIGHTS AND BEACON ON. N8172 WAS TAXING TO RWY 32 FOR TAKEOFF. PLT STATED HE SAW N49985 LAND AND TAKE THE FIRST TAXIWAY TURN OFF. HE STATED HE WAS MAKING 'S' TURNS BUT DID NOT SEE N49985 TURN ONTO THE TAXIWAY. THE CFI IN N49985 INITIATED A SHARP RIGHT TURN WHEN HE SAW N8172 COMING TOWARD HIM BUT WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE COLLISION. THE NOSE SECTION OF N1827 CONTACTED THE LEFT SIDE OF N49985.
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 152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 770 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 84 in the last 90 days; 668 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mansfield MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
The factual record for the amateur-built SA-300 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 770 hours in all; 170 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 665 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 1984
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-320 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.