Accident Overview
A midair collision occurred between a twin-engine Cessna 340 and a single-engine Cessna 172, registered N73532, while both aircraft were in flight. The Cessna 340 was on an executive flight from Little Rock to Dallas. The Cessna 172, operated by the Red River Army Depot, had departed Texarkana for a local flight with two passengers and one pilot on board.
Collision and Aftermath
Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All seven occupants—five on the Cessna 340 and two on the Cessna 172—were killed. The accident occurred in an uncontrolled area, and neither aircraft was under radar contact. The pilot of the Cessna 340 was facing the sun when the accident occurred.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be an in-flight collision after both crews failed to see and avoid each other. Contributing factors included sunglare, the absence of radar contact, no traffic advisory issued, and the lack of a control area.