| Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2254 | |
| Date: | April 9, 1990 |
| Type: | Mid-air collision |
| Occurrence Type: | Accident |
| Site: | Gadsden, Alabama, United States |
| Coordinates: | 33.9771°N -86.0949°W |
| Total Fatalities: | 2 |
| Total Survivors: | 7 |
| Plane1 Type: | Embraer 120RT Brasilia |
| Plane1 Image: | File:Atlantic Southeast Airlines EMB-120 N217AS.jpg |
| Plane1 Caption: | N217AS, the EMB-120 involved in the collision, in March 1989. |
| Plane1 Operator: | Atlantic Southeast Airlines |
| Plane1 Tailnum: | N217AS |
| Plane1 Origin: | Northwest Alabama Regional Airport |
| Plane1 Stopover: | Northeast Alabama Regional Airport |
| Plane1 Destination: | Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
|
| Plane1 Occupants: | 7 |
| Plane1 Passengers: | 4 |
| Plane1 Crew: | 3 |
| Plane1 Survivors: | 7 |
| Plane2 Type: | Cessna 172 |
| Plane2 Image: | CAP Cessna 172 in flight (20764307010).jpg |
| Plane2 Caption: | A CAP Cessna 172, similar to the aircraft involved in the accident. |
| Plane2 Operator: | Civil Air Patrol |
| Plane2 Tailnum: | N99501 |
| Plane2 Origin: | Northeast Alabama Regional Airport |
| Plane2 Destination: | Northeast Alabama Regional Airport |
| Plane2 Occupants: | 2 |
| Plane2 Passengers: | 1 |
| Plane2 Crew: | 1 |
| Plane2 Fatalities: | 2 |
On April 9, 1990, Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2254, a scheduled passenger flight from Muscle Shoals, Alabama, to Gadsden, Alabama, to Atlanta, Georgia, was involved in a mid-air collision with a Cessna 172 over Gadsden. The collision resulted in the death of the pilot and passenger of the Cessna 172.[1] [2]
Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2254 was operated under 14 CFR 135 with an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia (registration ).[2]
The second aircraft was a Cessna 172 (registration ), operated by two Civil Air Patrol pilots.[2] [3]
Flight 2254 departed Muscle Shoals, Alabama, en route to Atlanta with a scheduled intermediate stop at the Northeast Alabama Regional Airport in Gadsden, Alabama. The flight from Muscle Shoals to Gadsden was without incident.[1]
Flight 2254 departed Gadsden from Runway 24, with Captain William Query (56) and First Officer Quentin Haynes at the controls. The aircraft turned left toward the east along its intended flight path to Atlanta, climbing toward an assigned altitude of 5,000 feet. The Cessna 172 was westbound at the same altitude, facing the setting sun. The two aircraft collided at approximately 6:05 p.m. Central Daylight Time.[2]
As a result of the head-on collision, Flight 2254's right horizontal stabilizer was torn from the aircraft. Though significantly damaged, Flight 2254 managed to return to the airport with no injuries to occupants. The Cessna 172 crashed into a field, resulting in fatal injuries to both occupants. The ASA crew reported afterward that they saw the Cessna moments before impact, and that the captain attempted evasive action by pushing the nose down, but was unable to avoid the collision. An eyewitness who saw the collision did not report any evasive maneuvers by either aircraft prior to the accident.[2] [4] [3]
The probable cause of the crash was attributed by the NTSB to be "inadequate visual lookout by the pilots of both aircraft, which resulted in their failure to see and avoid oncoming traffic. A factor related to the accident was the sun's glare, which restricted the vision of the Cessna 172 pilot."[2]
Similar accidents between a scheduled commercial flight and a private aircraft in the immediate airport environment include: