On May 21, 1989, a Cessna 172M (registration N1272U) operated by Zackery A. Clark was involved in an aviation accident near Bradford, VT. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: FAILURE OF THE RATED PILOTS IN BOTH AIRCRAFT TO SEE AND AVOID A MIDAIR COLLISION. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
Two Cessna 172 aircraft collided mid-air; one crashed after its tail was severed, while the other landed on a highway with minor injuries and damage.
Collision
Two Cessna 172 aircraft collided in flight. The first, a Cessna 172M (registration N1272U), was operated by a commercial pilot with a student pilot passenger. The second, a Cessna 172RG (registration N4974V), was operated by a private pilot and a designated FAA check pilot on a commercial pilot check flight. Witnesses reported that the aircraft converged and collided while on headings 30 to 45 degrees apart. No evasive action was evident.
Impact Details
During the impact, the right horizontal stabilizer of the 172RG became embedded in the windshield of the 172M, and the propeller of the 172M severed the tail of the 172RG. The 172RG went out of control and crashed.
Aftermath
The occupants of the 172M made an emergency landing on an interstate highway, sustaining only minor injuries and causing minor damage to their aircraft.