Cessna 172 and Cessna A152 mid-air collision near Mercer Island, Washington, July 23, 1982
On July 23, 1982 at about 4:02 am local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172 (N2428E) and Cessna A152 (N761EL), were involved in a mid-air collision near Mercer Island, Washington. 6 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 1982 · about 4:02 am local time
- Place
- Mercer Island, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N2428E · registry record · serial 17271279
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna A152 · all A152s on the register
- Registration
- N761EL · no longer on the register · serial A1520945
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N2428E, A C-172, HAD DEPARTED SEA-TAC ARPT FOR A VFR FLT TO SNOHOMISH, WA, ABOUT 27 MI ON THE 355 DEG RADIAL FROM THE SEA-TAC VORTAC. IT PROCEEDED NNW OVER THE WEST SHORE OF MERCER ISLAND LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 10 MI NORTH OF THE SEA-TAC ARPT. N761EL, A C-A152, WAS SOUTHWEST BOUND PREPARING FOR ENTRY INTO THE BOEING FIELD ARPT TRAFFIC AREA. THE PLT'S LAST RADIO CONTACT HAD BEEN A POSITION REPORT TO BOEING FIELD TOWER. BOEING FIELD IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 5 MI NNW OF SEA-TAC ARPT. THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED ABOUT 1500 FT MSL OVER THE NW END OF MERCER ISLAND. THE COLLISION POINT IS ABOUT 5 MI NE OF BOEING FIELD. THE BLOCK OF TCA AIRSPACE OVER THE CRASH SITE HAS A "FLOOR" OF 3000 FT. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT A LAT OF 47-35N & LONG OF 122-15W.
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 A152 final · quoted from the NTSB record
N2428E, A C-172, HAD DEPARTED SEA-TAC ARPT FOR A VFR FLT TO SNOHOMISH, WA, ABOUT 27 MI ON THE 355 DEG RADIAL FROM THE SEA-TAC VORTAC. IT PROCEEDED NNW OVER THE WEST SHORE OF MERCER ISLAND LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 10 MI NORTH OF THE SEA-TAC ARPT. N761EL, A C-A152, WAS SOUTHWEST BOUND PREPARING FOR ENTRY INTO THE BOEING FIELD ARPT TRAFFIC AREA. THE PLT'S LAST RADIO CONTACT HAD BEEN A POSITION REPORT TO BOEING FIELD TOWER. BOEING FIELD IS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 5 MI NNW OF SEA-TAC ARPT. THE TWO ACFT COLLIDED ABOUT 1500 FT MSL OVER THE NW END OF MERCER ISLAND. THE COLLISION POINT IS ABOUT 5 MI NE OF BOEING FIELD. THE BLOCK OF TCA AIRSPACE OVER THE CRASH SITE HAS A "FLOOR" OF 3000 FT. THE COLLISION OCCURRED AT A LAT OF 47-35N & LONG OF 122-15W.
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 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 750 hours in all; 700 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 845 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-H2AD (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Snohomish Flying Service, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: SEA Seattle WA at 8:45 pm
- Destination: S43 Snohoimsh WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 330° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 65 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 147°F (64°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:48 am from BFJ, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 4 |
The factual record for the Cessna A152 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,362 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 143 in the last 90 days; 795 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 640 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 64 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BFI Seattle WA at 8:30 pm
- Destination: BFI Seattle WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA82AA126.