# NTSB DCA87MA029: Cessna 340A, N8716K, Orlando, FL, May 1, 1987 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 1 · Major · Final report - Date: May 1, 1987, 15:48 local (19:48 UTC) - Place: Orlando, FL - Coordinates: 28.539314, -81.36959 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5393&lon=-81.3696&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 4 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 12, 1988 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 1 - NTSB office: Major Investigations Division - Safety recommendations: Yes - NTSB case key (mKey): 15880 - NTSB case page: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/DCA87MA029.aspx - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/15880/pdf - Board report AAR8802 (PDF): https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR8802.pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DCA87MA029 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - normal - crew/group coordination - not performed, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause) - radar,approach/departure - inadequate (contributing factor) - identification of aircraft on radar - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause) - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, maneuvering - crew/group coordination - not performed, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause) - radar,approach/departure - inadequate (contributing factor) - identification of aircraft on radar - inadequate, atc personnel(dep/apch) (cause) - traffic advisory - not issued, atc personnel(dep/apch) (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THE TWO ACFT, A CESSNA 340A AND A NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4, COLLIDED IN FLT AT APRX 3000 FT MSL OVER ORLANDO FL IN VMC WITH A VISIBILITY OF 7 MILES. BOTH ACFT WERE IN CONTACT WITH AND BEING RADAR VECTORED BY ORLANDO APPROACH CONTROL. THE C-340 WAS IN LEVEL FLT AND THE SNJ WAS COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN AND STILL DESCENDING TO 1500 FT WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING UNDER IFR FLT RULES WITH THE C-340 BEING VECTORED TO RWY 18R AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONALARPT (MCO) AND THE SNJ BEING DIRECTED TO ORLANDO EXECUTIVE ARPT (ORL). THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 7 MILES NW OF ORL IN THE MCO ARPT RADAR SERVICE OUTER AREA. DURING THE VECTORING, THERE WAS A LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN CONTROLLERS DURING A TRANSFER OF CONTROL. THE RECEIVING CONTROLLER FAILED TO MAINTAIN RADAR TARGET IDENTIFICATION. THERE WAS ALSO A LACK OF TRAFFIC ADVISORIES. THE ACFT PLTS WERE LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO SEE DUE TO ACFT STRUCTURE AND RELATIVE POSITIONS TO EACH OTHER. AFTER THE COLLISION BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THE TWO ACFT, A CESSNA 340A AND A NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4, COLLIDED IN FLT AT APRX 3000 FT MSL OVER ORLANDO, FL IN VMC WITH A VISIBILITY OF 7 MILES. BOTH ACFT WERE IN CONTACT WITH AND BEING RADAR VECTORED BY ORLANDO APPROACH CONTROL. THE C-340 WAS IN LEVEL FLT AND THE SNJ WAS COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN AND STILL DESCENDING TO 1500 FT WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING UNDER IFR FLT RULES WITH THE C-340 BEING VECTORED TO RWY 18R AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONALARPT (MCO) AND THE SNJ BEING DIRECTED TO ORLANDO EXECUTIVE ARPT (ORL). THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 7 MILES NW OF ORL IN THE MCO ARPT RADAR SERVICE OUTER AREA. DURING THE VECTORING, THERE WAS A LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN CONTROLLERS DURING A TRANSFER OF CONTROL. THE RECEIVING CONTROLLER FAILED TO MAINTAIN RADAR TARGET IDENTIFICATION. THERE WAS ALSO A LACK OF TRAFFIC ADVISORIES. THE ACFT PLTS WERE LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO SEE DUE TO ACFT STRUCTURE AND RELATIVE POSITIONS TO EACH OTHER. AFTER THE COLLISION, BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: N8716K (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 340A - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 340A0629 - Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520 325 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: B. Lefils, doing business as Midwest Packing Materials, Inc - Registered owner: Midwest Packaging Materials Co - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 1987, 91 hours before - Departed: HUNTSVILLE, AL - Destination: MCO, ORLANDO, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ORL, Orlando Executive ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N711SQ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N711SQ-1989-01-19), registration cancelled 1989-01-19, S/N 8812709 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4 - Registry model: [North American SNJ-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-4) (registry code 6400414) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 8812709 - Airframe hours: 7226 - Engines: P&W R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: R. Favrean, doing business as Rosie O'Grady'S Orlando, Inc. - Registered owner: Rosie O'Gardys Of Orlando, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 6, 1987 - Departed: ORL, ORLANDO, FL - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: ORL, Orlando Executive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N8716K; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,335 total, 340 in this make and model, 2,335 as pilot in command - Pilot, aircraft N711SQ; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 7,118 total, 296 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ORL, 7 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19870501082972A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870501082972A), May 1, 1987: Cessna 340A, Orlando, FL, Destroyed, 3 fatal. In cruise was struck from above by descending N711SQ. Both aircraft crashed. ATC error also contributing factor - [Accident 19870501082971A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870501082971A), May 1, 1987: Namer SNJ4, Orlando, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Descended into 340A,N8716K, that was in level flight. Both crashed out of control. ATC controller error also factor From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.