Cessna 172M and Cessna 172RG mid-air collision near Bradford, Vermont, May 21, 1989
On May 21, 1989 at about 5:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172M (N1272U) and Cessna 172RG (N4974V), were involved in a mid-air collision near Bradford, Vermont. 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE RATED PILOTS IN BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISION.
FAILURE OF THE RATED PILOTS IN BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 1989 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bradford, Vermont
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed and 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N1272U · no longer on the register · serial 17266967
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172RG · all 172RGs on the register
- Registration
- N4974V · no longer on the register · serial 172RG
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
CESSNA 172M, N1272U, WITH A COMMERCIAL PLT & STUDENT PLT PASSENGER, COLLIDED IN FLT WITH CESSNA 172RG, N4974V, WHICH WAS BEING OPERD BY A PVT PLT & A DESIGNATED FAA CHECK PLT ON A COMMERCIAL PLT CHECK FLT. WITNESSES RPRTD THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED WHILE ON HDGS OF 30 TO 45 DEG FROM EACH OTHER. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS EVIDENT. DURING IMPACT, THE RGT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OF THE 172RG BECAME IMBEDDED IN THE WINDSHIELD OF THE 172M, & THE PROP OF THE 172M SEVERED THE TAIL OF THE 172RG. THE 172RG WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE 172M MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES TO THEMSELVES & MINOR DAMAGE TO THEIR ACFT.
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 172RG final · quoted from the NTSB record
CESSNA 172M, N1272U, WITH A COMMERCIAL PLT & STUDENT PLT PASSENGER, COLLIDED IN FLT WITH CESSNA 172RG, N4974V, WHICH WAS BEING OPERD BY A PVT PLT & A DESIGNATED FAA CHECK PLT ON A COMMERCIAL PLT CHECK FLT. WITNESSES RPRTD THE 2 ACFT CONVERGED & COLLIDED WHILE ON HDGS OF 30 TO 45 DEG FROM EACH OTHER. NO EVASIVE ACTION WAS EVIDENT. DURING IMPACT, THE RGT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER OF THE 172RG BECAME IMBEDDED IN THE WINDSHEILD OF THE 172M, & THE PROP OF THE 172M SEVERED THE TAIL OF THE 172RG. THE 172RG WENT OUT OF CONTROL & CRASHED. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE 172M MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH ONLY MINOR INJURIES TO THEMSELVES & MINOR DAMAGE TO THEIR ACFT.
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 172M from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,111 hours in all; 662 in this make and model; 402 in the last 90 days; 157 in the last 30 days; 1,059 as pilot in command; 555 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,747 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 8, 1988; 244 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-02G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EFK Newport VT at 4:10 pm
- Destination: 7B2 Northampton MA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 7,000 ft; not recorded at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from LEB, 24 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172RG from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 248 hours in all; 51 in the last 90 days; 14 in the last 30 days; 197 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,752 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 2, 1989
- Maximum gross weight: 2,658 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-F1A6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Pcg Air
The flight
- Departed from: LEB Lebanon NH at 4:34 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.