Multi-aircraft Event — Atlantic Southeast Airlines EV2254 / Civil Air Patrol CAP

Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2254, an Embraer EMB 120 Brasilia carrying 7 people (3 crew and 4 passengers), collided head-on with a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 172 carrying 2 people at 5,000 feet near Gadsden, Alabama. The collision tore the right horizontal stabilizer from the Embraer, but the crew managed to maintain control and return to Northeast Alabama Regional Airport for a safe landing with no injuries. The Cessna 172 crashed into a field, killing both occupants. The NTSB determined the cause was an inadequate visual lookout by both flight crews, exacerbated by sun glare affecting the Cessna pilot's vision.

Aircraft 1

Atlantic Southeast Airlines — Flight EV2254

Embraer EMB 120RT Brasilia · N217AS

Muscle Shoals, AL (MSL) → Atlanta, GA (ATL)

Souls 7 · Fatal 0

Aircraft 2

Civil Air Patrol — Flight CAP

Cessna 172P Skyhawk II · N99501

Gadsden, AL (GAD) → Gadsden, AL (GAD)

Souls 2 · Fatal 2

Phase

Cause

Total Souls

Total Fatalities

Report

Investigation Summary

Flight 2254 was operating a multi-leg route from Muscle Shoals to Atlanta with an intermediate stop in Gadsden. After departing Gadsden from Runway 24, the Embraer turned left toward the east and climbed toward its assigned altitude of 5,000 feet. Simultaneously, a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 172 was flying westbound at the same altitude, heading directly into the setting sun. The two aircraft collided at approximately 18:05 CDT. The impact resulted in the total loss of the Embraer's right horizontal stabilizer. Despite the severe structural damage and resulting control difficulties, Captain William Query and First Officer Quentin Haynes successfully landed the aircraft with no injuries to the seven people on board. The Cessna 172 was destroyed by the impact and subsequent ground collision, resulting in the deaths of both pilots on board.

Final Conclusions

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the probable cause was the failure of both flight crews to maintain an adequate visual lookout to see and avoid oncoming traffic. A contributing factor was the sun's glare, which restricted the vision of the Cessna 172 pilot. The ASA crew was later recognized with the Polaris Award for their airmanship in landing the crippled Brasilia.

Video Analysis

No video analysis linked for this case file yet.

Airframe & Maintenance

Atlantic Southeast Airlines EV2254 — Embraer EMB 120RT Brasilia · N217AS

Engines

2 x Pratt & Whitney Canada PW118

Civil Air Patrol CAP — Cessna 172P Skyhawk II · N99501

Engines

1 x Lycoming O-320

Systems & Failure Modes

Horizontal Stabilizer

The right horizontal stabilizer of the Embraer was completely torn away during the collision, significantly compromising the aircraft's longitudinal stability.

Visual Lookout

Under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) or when in visual conditions, pilots are responsible for the 'see and avoid' principle to prevent mid-air collisions.

Interesting Facts

01The Embraer EMB 120 was operating as a Delta Connection flight.
02The Cessna 172 was operated by the Civil Air Patrol.
03The collision occurred head-on while both aircraft were at 5,000 feet.
04The Embraer crew reported seeing the Cessna moments before impact and attempted to push the nose down.
05The Cessna pilot was flying directly toward the setting sun at the time of the collision.

Safety Actions & Advisories

Polaris Award

In 1992, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) awarded Captain William C. Query and First Officer Quentin Haynes the Polaris Award for outstanding airmanship.