Ryan NAVION and North American NAVION mid-air collision near Jasper, Alabama, May 21, 2018
On May 21, 2018 at about 5:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Ryan NAVION (N4356K) and North American NAVION (N8995H), were involved in a mid-air collision near Jasper, Alabama (Walker County Airport-Bevill F). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from another airplane in the formation flight due to sun glare.
The other pilot's failure to maintain clearance from another airplane in the formation flight due to sun glare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 21, 2018 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Jasper, Alabama · Walker County Airport-Bevill F · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Ryan NAVION, built 1948 · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N4356K · registry record · serial NAV-4-1356
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- North American NAVION NO SERIES, built 1947 · all NAVIONs on the register
- Registration
- N8995H · registry record · serial NAV-4-995
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Ryan NAVION final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before takeoff for the practice formation flight of four airplanes, the lead pilot briefed all the pilots on instructions for the formation changes. The flight began as a finger-four, heavy-left formation with a separation between the airplanes of about 80 ft. As the airplanes neared their destination, the lead pilot called for the flight to maneuver to "parade," and the airplanes closed the separation between them to about 40 ft. The lead pilot then called for the flight to change to an echelon-right formation. The two pilots in the trail airplanes left of the lead airplane began their maneuver to the right to position themselves behind the airplane that was already in position on the right side of the lead airplane. During this maneuver, the pilot in the airplane opposite the right-side airplane lost sight of that airplane due to sun glare, and they subsequently collided.Both airplane were able to land at the destination airport.
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 North American NAVION final · quoted from the NTSB record
Before takeoff for the practice formation flight of four airplanes, the lead pilot briefed all the pilots on instructions for the formation changes. The flight began as a finger-four, heavy-left formation with a separation between the airplanes of about 80 ft. As the airplanes neared their destination, the lead pilot called for the flight to maneuver to "parade," and the airplanes closed the separation between them to about 40 ft. The lead pilot then called for the flight to change to an echelon-right formation. The two pilots in the trail airplanes left of the lead airplane began their maneuver to the right to position themselves behind the airplane that was already in position on the right side of the lead airplane. During this maneuver, the pilot in the airplane opposite the right-side airplane lost sight of that airplane due to sun glare, and they subsequently collided.Both airplane were able to land at the destination airport.
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 Ryan NAVION from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,959 hours in all; 66.5 in this make and model; 170.6 in the last 90 days; 98 in the last 30 days; 4,657.3 as pilot in command; 1,443.5 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 22, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental IO 520 (piston); 248 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KJFX Jasper AL
- Destination: KJFX Jasper AL
- Runway 09, 5,004 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 99°F (37°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 5:30 pm from KJFX
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the North American NAVION from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,067 hours in all; 805 in this make and model; 13 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 967 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 11, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,783.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 9, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 2,850 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental E185 (piston); 263 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KJFX Jasper AL
- Destination: JFX Jasper AL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 5,004 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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 WPR18LA144.