Collision of Two Cessna 152 Training Aircraft Near Mönchengladbach

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 28 September 2002, two Reims Cessna F 152 aircraft collided near the mandatory reporting point TANGO while approaching the Verkehrslandeplatz Mönchengladbach. The incident resulted in the destruction of one aircraft and severe damage to the other. Both aircraft were 1979-built Reims Aviation Cessna 152s, configured as two-seat, high-wing, all-metal trainers with tricycle landing gear. They were operated by a local flight school for non-commercial VFR training purposes and were painted in identical blue and white livery. ## Flight Progression and Collision The first aircraft was being flown by a 39-year-old student pilot on a solo cross-country training flight. He had difficulty locating the TANGO reporting point and was assigned transponder code 4432 and a heading of 100 degrees by the Mönchengladbach tower controller. The second aircraft, carrying a 67-year-old flight instructor and a 26-year-old student, reported from the north, inbound to TANGO for landing. The controller immediately advised the second crew of the first aircraft approaching from the west. The second crew confirmed traffic in sight 10 seconds later. The student pilot in the second aircraft observed the first aircraft at the 2 o'clock position, approximately 100 to 150 feet above his altitude and one mile away. Both pilots assessed the situation as normal. Thirteen seconds after the second crew reported overflying TANGO, the solo pilot reported over TANGO and received entry clearance into the traffic pattern, along with a warning that a Cessna had just passed TANGO. The solo pilot did not acknowledge this information. Immediately after the end of the transmission, the flight instructor in the second aircraft reported the collision. The two aircraft collided at 12:36 local time at approximately 1,500 feet MSL while flying nearly parallel. ## Damage and Aftermath Following the collision, the solo pilot's aircraft crashed into a field near a residential area, impacting the ground with approximately 60 degrees of longitudinal and lateral tilt. The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire. The second aircraft was flown to Mönchengladbach by the flight instructor and landed with severe damage. ## Investigation Findings Physical evidence confirmed the collision dynamics. The detached right outer wing of the crashed aircraft was found 60 meters southeast of the main wreckage, bearing blue paint marks matching the upper engine cowling of the second aircraft. Black paint marks matching the second aircraft's propeller were found on other parts of the right wing. The second aircraft sustained significant deformation to its left wing, upper engine cowling, and propeller. The left wing's outer indentation indicated a lateral interpenetration, with tire and red paint marks matching the right wheel skid marking of the crashed aircraft. The left aileron was blocked. ## Meteorological and Operational Conditions Weather at the time of the accident was clear and sunny, with visibility exceeding 10 km and no clouds below 1,500 meters (CAVOK). Wind was from 10 degrees at 2 knots, and QNH was 1,029 hPa. Neither aircraft was equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, as these were not required by applicable regulations. The Mönchengladbach airfield (EDLN) is located 4.5 km northeast of the city, with runway 13 in operation. The airfield is equipped with a control zone (Class D airspace).