# NTSB MIA85LA117: North American SNJ-5, N9801C, Titusville, FL, March 10, 1985 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 10, 1985, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.579702, -80.820114 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.5797&lon=-80.8201&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 31366 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA85LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31366/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA85LA117 ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot of other aircraft - safety advisory - issued, pilot of other aircraft - safety advisory - not understood, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command - aborted takeoff - delayed, pilot in command - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - visual separation - not maintained - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - planning/decision - improper, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot of other aircraft - safety advisory - issued, pilot of other aircraft - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command - safety advisory - not understood, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - visual lookout - not possible, pilot of other aircraft - object - aircraft moving on ground (contributing factor) - visual separation - not maintained ## Analysis (aircraft 2) A GROUP OF T-6 TYPE ACFT WERE TAKING OFF IN SECTIONS OF TWO ACFT EACH. EACH SECTION OF TWO WERE MAKING A FORMATION TAKEOFF WITH A 5 TO 6 SECOND INTERVAL BETWEEN SECTIONS. N58740 WAS IN THE LEFT POSITION OF THE 2ND SECTION; N9801C WAS IN THE LEFT POSITION OF THE 3RD SECTION. DURING TAKEOFF, AN ACFT IN THE 1ST SECTION HAD AN ENG PROBLEM & THE PLT ABORTED HIS TAKEOFF. HE MADE A RADIO CALL TO NOTIFY THE OTHER PLTS & THE PLTS OF THE 2ND SECTION ABORTED THEIR TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, THE PLT OF N9801C, WHO WAS LEADING THE 3RD SECTION DID NOT HEAR THE RADIO CALL. HIS ACFT HAD POOR FORWARD VISIBILITY WHILE THE TAIL WHEEL WAS ON THE GROUND; THEREFORE, HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE ACFT AHEAD WERE ABORTING UNTIL HE RAISED THE TAIL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. BY THEN, IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING OF N9801C STRUCK THE RUDDER & ELEVATORS OF N58740 & BOTH ACFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N9801C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9801C), registered now, S/N 90-669, built 1943 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-5 - Registry model: [North American SNJ-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-5) (registry code 6400418) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 90669 - Airframe hours: 5600 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Carl E. Schwenker - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1985, 0 hours before - Departed: TIX - Airport: TIX, Titusville-Cocoa, runway 9, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N58740](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N58740), registered now, S/N 112114, built 1958 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-6 - Registry model: [North American SNJ-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/north-american-snj-6) (registry code 6400422) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 112114 - Airframe hours: 7130 - Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Clarence H. Ratliff - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: TIX - Airport: TIX, Titusville-Cocoa, runway 9, 5,001 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9801C; age 51; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 770 total, 103 in this make and model, 27 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N58740; age 33; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 3,000 total, 450 in this make and model, 2,900 as pilot in command, 116 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TIX 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.