Cessna 182 and Piper PA-28R-200 mid-air collision near Clinton, Utah, May 10, 1997
On May 10, 1997 at about 6:42 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 182 (N5434B) and Piper PA-28R-200 (N5270T), were involved in a mid-air collision near Clinton, Utah (Ogden-Hinckley airport). 3 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Inadequate prior arrangements for formation flight by the pilot-in-command of the Cessna 182, N5434B, and his subsequent failure to see-and-avoid the Piper PA-28R, N5270T. Factors were: the Cessna pilot's visibility of the Piper impaired by the sun; restricted visibility for both aircraft due to low wing/high wing formation configuration; and the Piper pilot's attention diverted to other traffic.
Inadequate prior arrangements for formation flight by the pilot-in-command of the Cessna 182, N5434B, and his subsequent failure to see-and-avoid the Piper PA-28R, N5270T. Factors were: the Cessna pilot's visibility of the Piper impaired by the sun; restricted visibility for both aircraft due to low wing/high wing formation configuration; and the Piper pilot's attention diverted to other traffic.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1997 · about 6:42 pm local time
- Place
- Clinton, Utah · Ogden-Hinckley · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed; 2 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 182 · all 182s on the register
- Registration
- N5434B · registry record · serial 33434
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-28R-200 · all PA-28R-200s on the register
- Registration
- N5270T · no longer on the register · serial 28R-7235211
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 182 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna 182, N5434B, called departing as a flight of two behind the Piper PA-28R-200, N5270T, and was cleared by tower to depart as a flight of two. The passenger in the Piper reported that shortly before the two aircraft collided, he observed the high-wing Cessna 45 degrees aft and right of the low-wing Piper, well low, but then lost sight of the Cessna and did not regain sight of it before the collision. The line of sight from the Cessna to the sun just before the collision was computed to be approximately at the Cessna's 9:30 position, 65 degrees above the horizon, with the line of sight from the Cessna to the Piper at about the Cessna's 10:30 position and well high. The Piper pilot reported that at the time of the collision, he was looking at opposite direction traffic in front of and above the Piper. The Cessna's empennage separated and the Cessna crashed. The Piper was able to return to the departure airport and land. The Piper pilot reported that the Cessna pilot made no prior arrangements with him to fly in formation.
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 Piper PA-28R-200 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Cessna 182, N5434B, called departing as a flight of two behind the Piper PA-28R-200, N5270T, and was cleared by tower to depart as a flight of two. The passenger in the Piper reported that shortly before the two aircraft collided, he observed the high-wing Cessna 45 degrees aft and right of the low-wing Piper, well low, but then lost sight of the Cessna and did not regain sight of it before the collision. The line of sight from the Cessna to the sun just before the collision was computed to be approximately at the Cessna's 9:30 position, 65 degrees above the horizon, with the line of sight from the Cessna to the Piper at about the Cessna's 10:30 position and well high. The Piper pilot reported that at the time of the collision, he was looking at opposite direction traffic in front of and above the Piper. The Cessna's empennage separated and the Cessna crashed. The Piper was able to return to the departure airport and land. The Piper pilot reported that the Cessna pilot made no prior arrangements with him to fly in formation.
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 182 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,723 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 3, 1997; 7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,550 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-L (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: OGD Ogden UT at 6:38 pm
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 15,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 37°F (3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:00 pm from OGD, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-28R-200 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,800 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 5 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,725 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,695 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 1996; 17 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,650 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-C1C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OGD Ogden UT at 6:38 pm
- Destination: SLC Salt Lake City UT
- 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.