Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

August 1, 1993 · Cessna A150L · N5958J

Ephrata, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 1, 1993
Injury Outcomes
2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Location
Ephrata, WA
Aircraft
Cessna A150L
Tail Number
N5958J
Operator
Civil Air Patrol
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
SEA93LA168

A mid-air collision occurred at an altitude of 50 to 75 ft over the threshold of runway 2, which involved a Cessna 150, N5958J, and a Grumman 164B, N8407K. The Cessna pilot was a solo student, practicing touch-and-go landings. He was on final approach to runway 2. The Grumman pilot had entered the airport environment from the north and was spraying a herbicide on the edge of the runways for weed control. While in the pattern, the student saw the Grumman and thought it was departing from runway 11. After that, he did not see the Grumman. The Grumman pilot stated that as he approached the airport, he announced that he would be spraying the west side of runway 20 and on runway 11. However, neither the student nor two witnesses, who were monitoring the UNICOM frequency, heard the Grumman pilot announce his intentions. The Grumman pilot said that he neither saw nor heard the Cessna in the traffic pattern, but the two witnesses verified that the student had announced his position around the pattern.

NTSB Probable Cause

INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT BY BOTH PILOTS, RESULTING IN THEIR FAILURE TO SEE-AND-AVOID EACH OTHER'S AIRCRAFT. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE GRUMMAN 164B PILOT TO ADEQUATELY MONITOR THE UNICOM FREQUENCY.

Full Narrative

On August 1, 1993, at 0950 hours Pacific daylight time, a Cessna A150L, N5958J, and a Grumman 164B, N8407K, collided over the threshold on Runway 2, at the Ephrata Municipal Airport, Ephrata, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed by either pilot. Both airplanes were destroyed and the student pilot in the Cessna, and the certificated commercial pilot in the Grumman were seriously injured. Both flights originated at Ephrata for local flights. The student pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings, while the pilot in the Grumman was returning from an aerial application flight that had originated from Ephrata at 0915 hours. The student pilot reported that he had performed one touch-and-go without incident. After take off, the pilot announced his position on downwind, base and final. While on the base leg, the pilot stated that he saw the spray plane and thought that it was taking off from runway 11. The student did not see the spray plane again until just before the collision. The student reported that he did not hear any radio transmissions from the spray plane. The spray plane pilot reported that after the completion of an aerial application flight, if there was any herbicide left over, he had an agreement with the airport authority that he would spray next to the runway for weed control. The pilot reported that as he approached the airport from the north, he announced on 122.8 that he would be spraying on the west side of runway 20 and on runway 11. The spraying altitude was approximately 50 feet above ground level. The pilot reported that he did not see or hear the student pilot in the pattern. The collision occurred over the threshold of runway 2 at an elevation of approximately 50 to 75 feet. The UNICOM operator reported that she heard the student pilot announce his position while in the pattern, however, she did not hear the spray plane pilot at any time. A witness, who is a certificated flight instructor, was in an airplane in the run-up area for runway 2 at the time of the accident. The flight instructor reported that he heard the student pilot in the pattern make clear and accurate position announcements. The flight instructor first observed the spray plane when it was approximately 100 feet above ground level and flying almost directly over his airplane. At no time did the flight instructor hear position announcements or intentions from the spray plane.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time09:50 PDT
Nearest AirportEPHRATA (0nm)
Runway2
Runway Length6699 ft
Runway Width150 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna A150L
Tail NumberN5958J
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorCivil Air Patrol
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · O-200 · Reciprocating · 100 | P&W · R-1340-AN2 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary2 injuries (2 serious injuries)
Fatal0
Serious2
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total2
Crew 1Age 16 · Third Class
Crew 2Age 52 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind10° @ 7 kt
Visibility20 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point45 C
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:51
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data