Cessna 172N and Cessna R182 mid-air collision near Brookeville, Maryland, June 1, 1992
On June 1, 1992 at about 3:47 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172N (N738YV) and Cessna R182 (N4445R), were involved in a mid-air collision near Brookeville, Maryland. 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (PIC/CFI) IN THE CESSNA 172, HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO AIRPLANES, AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS IN THE CESSNA 172.
IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION BY THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR (PIC/CFI) IN THE CESSNA 172, HIS MISJUDGEMENT OF DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TWO AIRPLANES, AND INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS IN THE CESSNA 172.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 1, 1992 · about 3:47 pm local time
- Place
- Brookeville, Maryland · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed and 1 person was seriously injured; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172N · all 172Ns on the register
- Registration
- N738YV · no longer on the register · serial 70350
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna R182 · all R182s on the register
- Registration
- N4445R · no longer on the register · serial 00600
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172N final · quoted from the NTSB record
CESSNA 172, N738TV, & CESSNA R182, N4445R, WERE BEING OPERD BY CONGRESSIONAL AIR AT MONTGOMERY COUNTY AIRPARK. THE 172 WAS RTRNG TO THE ARPT AT AN ALT OF 2500 FT DRG A DUAL TRNG FLT. THE R182 HAD DEPD FROM BALTIMORE & WAS ALSO INBOUND TO THE ARPT, BUT AT 1500 FT. THE CFI IN THE 172 ADZD THE R182 PLTS THAT HE WOULD CIRCLE A LANDFILL NEAR THE ARPT, THEN FOLLOW THE R182 TO THE ARPT. THE R182 PLT RPRTD HE SAW THE 172 PASSING IN FRONT OF HIS ACFT IN THE OPPOSITE DRCTN (AT A DSTC OF ABT 1/2 TO 3/4 MI); 'AFTER A MINUTE' HE LOOKED OUT THE RGT WINDOW & SAW THE 172 CONVERGING IN A DSCNDG RGT TURN. HE TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE 172 WENT INTO AN UNCTLD DSCNT & CRASHED; THE R182 PLT MADE A FORCED LNDG IN A WHEAT FLD. AN EXAM OF THE 172 REVEALED THAT ABT 3-1/2 FT OF THE LEFT OUTBOARD WING SECTION WAS MISSING. THIS SECTION WAS FOUND EMBEDDED IN THE RGT SIDE OF THE R182'S FUSELAGE, JUST BEHIND THE ENG.
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 R182 final · quoted from the NTSB record
CESSNA 172, N738YV, & CESSNA R182, N4445R, WERE BEING OPERD BY CONGRESSIONAL AIR AT MONTGOMERY COUNTY AIRPARK. THE 172 WAS RTRNG TO THE ARPT AT AN ALT OF 2500 FT DRG A DUAL TRNG FLT. THE R182 HAD DEPD FROM BALTIMORE & WAS ALSO INBOUND TO THE ARPT, BUT AT 1500 FT. THE CFI IN THE 172 ADZD THE R182 PLTS THAT HE WOULD CIRCLE A LANDFILL NEAR THE ARPT, THEN FOLLOW THE R182 TO THE ARPT. THE R182 PLT RPRTD HE SAW THE 172 PASSING IN FRONT OF HIS ACFT IN THE OPPOSITE DRCTN (AT A DSTC OF ABT 1/2 TO 3/4 MI); 'AFTER A MINUTE' HE LOOKED OUT THE RGT WINDOW & SAW THE 172 CONVERGING IN A DSCNDG RGT TURN. HE TRIED TO AVOID A COLLISION, BUT WAS UNABLE. THE 172 WENT INTO AN UNCTLD DSCNT & CRASHED; THE R182 PLT MADE A FORCED LNDG IN A WHEAT FLD. AN EXAM OF THE 172 REVEALED THAT ABT 3-1/2 FT OF THE LEFT OUTBOARD WING SECTION WAS MISSING. THIS SECTION WAS FOUND EMBEDDED IN THE RGT SIDE OF THE R182'S FUSELAGE, JUST BEHIND THE ENG.
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 172N 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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,430 hours in all; 773 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Congressional Air
The flight
- Departed from: GAI Gaithersburg MD at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 4,800 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from BWI, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna R182 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,430 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,011 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 6, 1992; 69 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,200 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-540-J3C5D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Congressional Air
The flight
- Departed from: BWI Baltimore MD at 3:30 pm
- Destination: GAI Gaithersburg MD
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 | 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.