Investigation Summary
The collision occurred in clear daylight conditions under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) sequencing. The DC-9 crew had reported the airport in sight and were cleared for a contact approach to Runway 17. Simultaneously, a Cessna 150F on an instructional flight was instructed to report on a right downwind leg. However, the Cessna pilots apparently misunderstood or disregarded this instruction, flying instead toward the final approach path. The tower controller, working without functional daylight radar and relying on binoculars, issued traffic advisories to both aircraft. The Cessna pilot acknowledged a warning that the DC-9 would be 'above and to your left,' but the DC-9 actually overtook the Cessna from behind. Due to the Cessna's high-wing design and the DC-9's approach angle, neither crew saw the other in time to avoid the collision. The DC-9's right wing struck the Cessna, which then plunged to the ground.
Final Conclusions
The NTSB determined the probable cause was the inadequacy of VFR separation standards in controlled airspace and the failure of the DC-9 crew to sight the Cessna. Contributing factors included the lack of established VFR traffic pattern procedures at Lambert Field, the controller's failure to ensure instructions were understood during heavy traffic without radar assistance, and the Cessna crew's deviation from their assigned traffic pattern.
Video Analysis
Airspace Chaos | Ozark Airlines Flight 965 — A detailed look at the 1968 mid-air collision between a DC-9 jetliner and a Cessna 150 over St. Louis, Missouri.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Ozark Air Lines OZ965 — Douglas DC-9-15 · N970Z
Interstate Airmotive, Inc. N8669G — Cessna 150F · N8669G
Crew Experience
Captain
Captain R.J. Fitch
First Officer (Pilot Flying)
First Officer W.C. Oltman, seated in the right-hand seat.
Captain (Observer)
Captain R.W. Traub
Flight Instructor
B.L. Allen
Trainee Pilot
John Brooks, held a commercial pilot certificate.
Systems & Failure Modes
Daylight Radar
The Lambert Field control tower was equipped with radar, but the display was designed for nighttime use and was ineffective in bright daylight conditions.
VFR Separation
Separation was maintained via 'see and avoid' principles and visual sequencing by tower controllers rather than positive radar control.
Interesting Facts
- 01The DC-9 landed safely with no injuries to its 44 passengers and 5 crew members.
- 02Both occupants of the Cessna 150F, an instructor and a trainee, were killed.
- 03The tower radar scope was not usable in daylight, forcing controllers to use binoculars for sequencing.
- 04Visibility studies showed the Cessna should have been visible to the DC-9 first officer for 58 seconds prior to impact.
- 05The Cessna pilots likely could not see the DC-9 because it approached from above and behind their high-wing aircraft.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Radar Infrastructure
The NTSB recommended the installation of daylight-visible radar displays at Lambert Field to assist controllers in sequencing VFR traffic.
Traffic Corridors
The NTSB recommended establishing VFR traffic corridors at high-density airports to provide an orderly flow for landing aircraft.