Atlantic Southeast Airlines Flight 2254

Accident
Date	April 9, 1990
Summary	Mid-air collision
Site	Gadsden, Alabama, United States 33°58′37.57″N 86°5′41.55″W / 33.9771028°N 86.0948750°W / 33.9771028; -86.0948750
Total fatalities	2
Total survivors	7
First aircraft
N217AS, the EMB-120 involved in the collision, in March 1989.
Type	Embraer 120RT Brasilia
Operator	Atlantic Southeast Airlines
IATA flight No.	EV2254
ICAO flight No.	ASQ2254
Call sign	ACEY 2254
Registration	N217AS
Flight origin	Northwest Alabama Regional Airport; Muscle Shoals, Alabama
Stopover	Northeast Alabama Regional Airport; Gadsden, Alabama
Destination	Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport; Atlanta, Georgia
Occupants	7
Passengers	4
Crew	3
Fatalities	0
Survivors	7
Second aircraft
N429CP, the aircraft similar to the one involved
Type	Cessna 172
Operator	Civil Air Patrol
Registration	N99501
Flight origin	Northeast Alabama Regional Airport; Gadsden, Alabama
Destination	Northeast Alabama Regional Airport; Gadsden, Alabama
Occupants	2
Passengers	1
Crew	1
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 N217AS^[3]).^[2]

The second aircraft was a Cessna 172 (registration N99501^[4]), operated by two Civil Air Patrol pilots.^[2][5]

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]: 1

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]: 1 [6][5]}

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:

• Aeroméxico Flight 498
• Pacific Southwest Airlines Flight 182
• Golden West Airlines Flight 261
• Piedmont Airlines Flight 22

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Transportation Safety Board.