- Date
- September 24, 1989, 09:35 local (13:35 UTC)
- Place
- Ochopee, FL
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 1 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 30, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19890924065872A19890924065871A
- Case key
- 32311
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid each other while maneuvering.
The failure of the pilots of both airplanes to see and avoid each other while manuevering.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
N80587 manuevered around the observation tower at shark valley at an altitude of 600 feet. The flight then departed the area climbing toward the southeast at 100 knots. N1063F was performing slow flight with full flaps extended at approximately 800 feet and a southwesterly heading. As the radar targets of both airplanes crossed, N1063F turned toward the west and began to fly an erratic path. N80587 continued to climb normally and returned to the tamiami airport for landing. N1063F was lost from radar one minute later. A tire mark on the upper inboard area of the right wing of N1063F was found which best matches the left main tire of N80587. The rear wing spar of N1063F failed in the area of the tire mark and the airplane experienced inflight separation of the wings. The pilot of N80587 did not recall colliding with another airplane or any event that would suggest this. He passed a polygraph test to that effect
N80587 manuevered around the observation tower at shark valley at an altitude of 600 feet. The flight then departed the area climbing toward the southeast at 100 knots. N1063F was performing slow flight with full flaps extended at approximately 800 feet and a southwesterly heading. As the radar targets of both airplanes crossed, N1063F turned toward the west and began to fly an erratic path. N80587 continued to climb normally and returned to the tamiami airport for landing. N1063F was lost from radar one minute later. A tire mark on the upper inboard area of the right wing of N1063F was found which best matches the left main tire of N80587. The rear wing spar of N1063F failed in the area of the tire mark and the airplane experienced inflight separation of the wings. The pilot of N80587 did not recall colliding with another airplane or any event that would suggest this. He passed a polygraph test to that effect.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N1063F
- Reported as
- Cessna 172N
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17272941
- Airframe hours
- 3,682
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-H2AD, 160 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Airmim, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 25, 1989 · 85 hours before
- Departed
- IMB · Miami, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N80587
- Reported as
- Cessna 152
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15285366
- Airframe hours
- 3,032
- Engine
- Lycoming O-235-L2C, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Tamiami Service, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal; Standard, Utility
- Departed
- IMB · Miami, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N1063F
- Age
- 62
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 27,267 total · 1,500 in this make and model · 2,472 as pilot in command · 53 in the last 90 days · 18 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N80587
- Age
- 35
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 24 total · 24 in this make and model · 2 as pilot in command · 24 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 10 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- TMB, 18 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.