Cessna 172M and amateur-built SA-750 (ACRODUSTER) accident near Albany, Oregon, October 12, 1996
On October 12, 1996 at about 3:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172M (N9579H) and amateur-built SA-750 (ACRODUSTER) (N94WE), were involved in the same accident near Albany, Oregon (Albany Municipal airport). 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
failure of the SA-750 pilot to see-and-avoid the Cessna 172, which had landed ahead of him on the same runway. The inherent visual restrictions of the SA-750 (a tandem two-place biplane) was a related factor.
failure of the SA-750 pilot to see-and-avoid the Cessna 172, which had landed ahead of him on the same runway. The inherent visual restrictions of the SA-750 (a tandem two-place biplane) was a related factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 1996 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Albany, Oregon · Albany Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 3 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172M · all 172Ms on the register
- Registration
- N9579H · no longer on the register · serial 17266242
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built SA-750 (ACRODUSTER) SA-750 (AC
- Registration
- N94WE · no longer on the register · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172M final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 172 and an Ensey SA-750 (Acroduster) biplane had flown to the Albany Airport as part of a three-ship group. The Cessna entered the pattern on a left base approximately the same time as the SA-750 entered the pattern on a 45 degree entry to a left downwind. The Cessna pilot had the SA-750 in sight as the Cessna was entering the pattern, but the SA-750 pilot never saw the Cessna once the two aircraft arrived in the vicinity of the airport. Although the pilots of both aircraft made all standard position calls while in the pattern, the pilot of the SA-750, which was being flown at 80 MPH on final, failed to maintain sufficient clearance between his aircraft and the preceding Cessna, which was being flown about 65 MPH on final. Subsequently, the SA-750 converged on the Cessna from behind. Shortly after the two airplanes touched down on the runway, they collided. According to the SA-750 pilot, the first time he saw the Cessna was about one second before impact on the runway.
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 amateur-built SA-750 (ACRODUSTER) final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Cessna 172 and an Ensey SA-750 (Acroduster) biplane had flown to the Albany Airport as part of a three-ship group. The Cessna entered the pattern on a left base approximately the same time as the SA-750 entered the pattern on a 45 degree entry to a left downwind. The Cessna pilot had the SA-750 in sight as the Cessna was entering the pattern, but the SA-750 pilot never saw the Cessna once the two aircraft arrived in the vicinity of the airport. Although the pilots of both aircraft made all standard position calls while in the pattern, the pilot of the SA-750, which was being flown at 80 MPH on final, failed to maintain sufficient clearance between his aircraft and the preceding Cessna, which was being flown about 65 MPH on final. Subsequently, the SA-750 converged on the Cessna from behind. Shortly after the two airplanes touched down on the runway, they collided. According to the SA-750 pilot, the first time he saw the Cessna was about one second before impact on the runway.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 289 hours in all; 250 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 238 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,040 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 1995; 122 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: CVO Corvallis OR at 3:00 pm
- Destination: S12
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,004 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built SA-750 (ACRODUSTER) from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 798 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 33 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 685 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 153 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1996; 97 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A4M (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CVO Corvallis OR at 3:00 pm
- Destination: S12
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 3,004 ft by 75 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
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.