Beech BE-77 and Cessna 182R mid-air collision near Spokane, Washington, December 18, 1996
On December 18, 1996 at about 4:05 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Beech BE-77 (N6043M) and Cessna 182R (N5949E), were involved in a mid-air collision near Spokane, Washington. 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
The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid each other. A factor contributing to the accident was the Cessna's pilot diverted attention.
The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid each other. A factor contributing to the accident was the Cessna's pilot diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 18, 1996 · about 4:05 pm local time · cases in 1996
- Place
- Spokane, Washington
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Beech BE-77
- Registration
- N6043M · registry record · serial WA-18
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 182R · all 182Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5949E · no longer on the register · serial 18268340
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Beech BE-77 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot of the Beech 77, N6043M, was practicing ground reference maneuvers about 1,500 feet above the ground, and the pilot of a Cessna 182R, N5949E, was climbing out after takeoff. The student pilot had just completed a turn to the south, when the Cessna collided with it from the right front as the Cessna was climbing from the southeast. The right main landing gear of the Cessna struck the leading edge of the Beech's right horizontal stabilizer and crushed it aftward and upward. Half of the Cessna's right main landing gear, and all of the Beech's right elevator separated in flight. Both airplanes landed safely back at the departure airport. The Cessna pilot stated that he was programming his cockpit GPS receiver at the time of the collision.
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 182R final · quoted from the NTSB record
The solo student pilot of the Beech 77, N6043M, was practicing ground reference maneuvers about 1,500 feet above the ground, and the pilot of a Cessna 182R, N5949E, was climbing out after takeoff. The student pilot had just completed a turn to the south, when the Cessna collided with it from the right front as the Cessna was climbing from the southeast. The right main landing gear of the Cessna struck the leading edge of the Beech's right horizontal stabilizer and crushed it aftward and upward. Half of the Cessna's right main landing gear, and all of the Beech's right elevator separated in flight. Both airplanes landed safely back at the departure airport. The Cessna pilot stated that he was programming his cockpit GPS receiver at the time of the collision.
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 Beech BE-77 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 57 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 17 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,975 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 22, 1996; 103 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,675 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFF Spokane WA at 4:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from GEG, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 182R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,648 hours in all; 175 in this make and model; 138 in the last 90 days; 38 in the last 30 days; 1,534 as pilot in command; 1,203 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,846 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1996; 43 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,100 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental O-470-U (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SFF Spokane WA at 4:00 pm
- Destination: SZT Sand Point ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6043M on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Beechcraft 6 aircraft on the register
- N5949E: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Cessna 182 Skylane 11,834 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Cessna 72,676 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 14 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: Continental O-470-U 56 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Felts Field · departed from
- Sandpoint Airport · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Washington 2,713 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Washington 10,664 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/SEA97LA038.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.