# NTSB MIA89FA253: Cessna 172N, N1063F, Ochopee, FL, September 24, 1989 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 24, 1989, 09:35 local (13:35 UTC) - Place: Ochopee, FL - Location: 25.9015° N, 81.3034° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Ochopee, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9015&lon=-81.3034&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 1991 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 32311 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89FA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32311/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89FA253 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER WHILE MANEUVERING. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) THE FAILURE OF THE PILOTS OF BOTH AIRPLANES TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER WHILE MANUEVERING. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, maneuvering - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) 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 ## Analysis (aircraft 1) 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 1 - Registration: [N1063F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1063F-1990-07-25), registration cancelled 1990-07-25, S/N 17272941 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 172N - Registry model: [Cessna 172N](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172n) (registry code 2072434) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17272941 - Airframe hours: 3682 - Engines: 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 ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N80587](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80587), registered now, S/N 15285366, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 152 - Registry model: [Cessna 152](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-152) (registry code 2071835) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15285366 - Airframe hours: 3032 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N1063F; age 62; 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 - Pilot, aircraft N80587; age 35; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19890924065872A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890924065872A), Sep 24, 1989: Cessna 172N, Ochopee, FL, Destroyed, 2 fatal. Was struck on top of wing by main gear of N80587. Lost control. Aircraft broke up. N80587 claims unaware of impact. - [Accident 19890924065871A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890924065871A), Sep 24, 1989: Cessna 152, Ochopee, FL, Minor damage. Collided with N1063F. Left main tire hit top of wing and N1063F broke up in air. Pilot was unaware of collision. 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.