- Date
- November 15, 1993, 07:18 local (12:18 UTC)
- Place
- Orlando, FL
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 13, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19931115046131A19931115046132A
- Case key
- 37459
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 pilot-in-command of the other aircraft to maintain a visual lookout and clearance between aircraft.
The pilot-in-command's failure to maintain visual lookout and clearance between aircraft.
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
The pilot stated while parked in the engine runup area adjacent to runway 07, he heard an engine that sounded like it was doing a runup. He looked towards the sound and observed a Piper Aerostar taxiing right at him. The Aerostar pilot was looking down instead of outside. He attempted to move his airplane out of the way, but the Aerostar collided with his airplane.
While taxiing to the engine runup area adjacent to runway 07, the pilot observed two other airplanes parked one behind the other in the runup area. The pilot stated ground fog was present and the sun was directly in his eyes. As he taxied into the runup area, he collided with the second airplane. The pilot of the other airplane stated the pilot of N91WW was observed looking down inside his airplane when the collision occurred. Official sunrise was 06:52 and there was light fog in the area.
Factual narrative
Same as narrative MIA94LA023A.
On November 15, 1993, at about 0718 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-60, N91WW, registered to Cherokee Leasing Inc., operating as a 14 CFR part 135 on-demand air taxi flight collided with a Cessna 172, N1753V, registered to Flight Express Inc., operating as a 14 CFR part 91 aerial observation flight, while taxiing. Both airplanes sustained substantial damage. Both commercial pilots and one passenger in the Cessna 172 were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. An IFR flight plan was filed by the Cherokee Express pilot, and no flight plan was filed by the Flight Express pilot. Both flights were originating at Orlando Executive Airport.
The pilot-in-command of the Cherokee Express airplane stated in an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he observed two Cessna airplanes in the runup area for runway 07 as he was taxiing to the same runup area. The Cessna airplanes had their engines running, and were parked one behind the other. Upon entering the runup area the pilot stated there was some ground fog and the sun was directly in his eyes. The pilot observed a Cessna airplane which he thought was the front airplane, which in reality was the rear airplane. He continued to turn and collided with the airplane.
The pilot-in-command of the Flight Express airplane stated in a written statement, I was parked in the ramp area waiting for takeoff clearance clear of taxiway golf. I heard an engine that sounded like it was doing a runup. I saw an Aerostar coming right at me. I saw the pilot looking down and the left prop coming right for my left wing and fuel tank. At this time I tried to move away from the Aerostar to prevent impact. The Aerostar never stopped and ran right into me.
The nearest weather reporting facility at the time of the accident was on the Orlando Executive Airport, Orlando, Florida. There were no reported restrictions to visibility at the time of the accident. Review of sun and moon information for the Orlando Executive Airport, revealed official sunrise was at 06:52.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N91WW
- Reported as
- Piper PA-60
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 60-0262-105
- Airframe hours
- 4,550
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540K-1F5, 290 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Part 135
- Registered owner
- Cherokee Leasing Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- AAIP · November 14, 1993 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- ORL
- Destination
- TLH · Tallahassee, FL
- Flight plan
- IFR
- Airport
- ORL · Orlando Executive Airport
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
- N1753V
- Reported as
- Cessna 172M
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 17263738
- Airframe hours
- 8,752
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-E2D, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Flight Express Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Utility; Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · October 23, 1993 · 10 hours before
- Departed
- ORL
- Destination
- ORL
- Airport
- ORL · Orlando Executive Airport
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 N91WW
- Age
- 29
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,712 total · 99 in this make and model · 2,455 as pilot in command · 220 in the last 90 days · 165 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N1753V
- Age
- 23
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,030 total · 250 in this make and model · 840 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 3 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ORL, 1 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.