# NTSB MIA85IA208: Cessna 402, N68368, West Palm Bch, FL, July 5, 1985

- Type: NTSB incident investigation
- Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report
- Date: July 5, 1985, 09:50 local (13:50 UTC)
- Place: West Palm Bch, FL
- Coordinates: 26.660205, -80.089393 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.6602&lon=-80.0894&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 11 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31293
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85IA208
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31293/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85IA208

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Near collision between aircraft, takeoff - initial climb
  - interpretation of instructions - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause)
  - radio communications - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Near collision between aircraft, takeoff - initial climb
  - interpretation of instructions - inaccurate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - radio communications - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

A LEARJET 35 WAS CLEARED ON TO RUNWAY 09L AND HOLD, THE LEARJET CREW CONFIRMED WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER PERSONNEL THAT TE TRANSMISSION WAS INTENDED FOR THEM AND TAXIED INTO POSITION AND HELD. PERSONNEL ON DUTY IN THE CONTROL TOWER THEN CLEARED A CESSNA 403 POSITION AND HOLD ON RUNWAY 13. THE TOWER PERSONNEL THEN CLEARED THE LEARJET FOR DEPARTURE AND HE ACKNOWLEDGED. BOTH AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO TAKE OFF AND MISSED EACH OTHER BY ABOUT 10 FT AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA STATED LATER THAT HE THOGHT THE CLEARANCE WAS FOR HIM.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

A LEARIET 35 WAS CLEARED ON TO RUNWAY 09L AND HOLD, THE LEARJET CREW CONFIRMED WITH THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER PERSONNEL THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS INTENDED FOR THEM AND TAXIED INTO POSITION AND HELD. PERSONNEL ON DUTY IN THE CONTROL TOWER THEN CLEARED A CESSNA 403 INTO POSITION AND HOLD ON RUNWAY 13. THE TOWER PERSONNEL THEN CLEARED THE LEARJET FOR DEPARTURE AND HE AKNOWLEDGED. BOTH AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN TO TAKE OFF AND MISSED EACH OTHER BY ABOUT 10 FT AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE PILOT OF THE CESSNA STATED LATER THAT THE THOUGHT THE CLEARANCE WAS FOR HIM.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N68368 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA 402
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0460
- Airframe hours: 2011
- Engines: CONTINENTAL TSIO-520VB 325 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Part 135
- Operator: Gull Air
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, June 29, 1985, 25 hours before
- Departed: PBI, WEST PALM BCH, FL
- Destination: MIA, MIAMI, FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: pbi, West Palm Beach Int'L, runway 13, 6,930 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: N163A (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Gates Learjet LR-35A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 073
- Airframe hours: 4830
- Engines: GARRETT TFE-731-2-2B 3500 lbs thrust turbo fan
- Damage: No damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Alpha Services Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Departed: MYNN, NASSAU, OF
- Destination: MYNN, NASSAU, OF
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: pbi, West Palm Beach Int'L, runway 9, 7,991 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N68368; age 29; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 6,435 total, 2,988 in this make and model, 6,225 as pilot in command, 330 in the last 90 days
- Pilot, aircraft N163A; age 34; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: PBIA

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.

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