Cessna 150L and Cessna 172 mid-air collision near Seneca Falls, New York, January 29, 1989
On January 29, 1989 at about 9:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 150L (N17109) and Cessna 172 (N12679), were involved in a mid-air collision near Seneca Falls, New York (Seneca Falls airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE C-150, N17109, TO MAINTAIN PROPER SEPARATION FROM OTHER AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT.
FAILURE OF THE PILOT OF THE C-150, N17109, TO MAINTAIN PROPER SEPARATION FROM OTHER AIRCRAFT DURING LANDING AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 29, 1989 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Seneca Falls, New York · Seneca Falls · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 150L · all 150Ls on the register
- Registration
- N17109 · no longer on the register · serial 15073629
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N12679 · registry record · serial 17262170
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 150L final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 150 LANDED ON TOP OF THE CESSNA 172 AS BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE LANDING AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. ALTHOUGH THEY BOTH SAID THAT THEY RADIOED THEIR INTENTIONS ON UNICOM, NEITHER SAW NOR WAS AWARE OF THE OTHERS LOCATION. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS.
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 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE CESSNA 150 LANDED ON TOP OF THE CESSNA 172 AS BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE LANDING AT AN UNCONTROLLED AIRPORT. ALTHOUGH THEY BOTH SAID THAT THEY BROADCASTED THEIR INTENTIONS ON UNICOM, NEITHER SAW NOR WAS AWARE OF THE OTHERS LOCATION. BOTH AIRPLANES WERE PRACTICING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS.
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 150L from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 27 hours in all; 27 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 668 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 19, 1988; 18 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-200A (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: K & M Aircraft, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: 0G7 Seneca Falls NY at 8:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 58 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 34 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SYR Syracuse NY at 8:40 pm
- Destination: 0G7 Seneca Falls NY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,200 ft by 50 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N17109 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.