# NTSB MIA94LA119: Globe 9C-1B, N78321, Okeechobee, FL, April 10, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 1994, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Okeechobee, FL - Coordinates: 27.189302, -80.240249 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1893&lon=-80.2402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 3, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37527 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA94LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37527/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA94LA119 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) BOTH PILOTS MISJUDGED THEIR CLEARANCE FROM EACH OTHER. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) BOTH PILOTS MISJUDGED THEIR CLEARANCE FROM EACH OTHER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, maneuvering - formation flying - performed, pilot in command - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - Midair collision, maneuvering - formation flying - performed, pilot in command - clearance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - misjudged, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) THREE AIRPLANES WERE FLYING FORMATION PERFORMING AEROBATICS, AND DURING A MANEUVER TWO COLLIDED. BOTH SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) THREE AIRPLANES WERE FLYING FORMATION PERFORMING AEROBATICS, AND DURING A MANEUVER TWO COLLIDED. BOTH SUBSEQUENTLY LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) Narrative the same as case number MIA94LA119A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On April 10, 1994, about 1700 eastern daylight time, N78321, a Globe 9C-1B, registered to and operated by Michael P. Kennedy, and N80949, also a Globe 9C-1B, registered to and operated by Lowell E. Sterchi, collided in midair near Okeechobee, Florida, while on 14 CFR Part 91 aerobatic flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for either flight. Both airplanes were substantially damaged, and both pilots, the sole occupants of each airplane were not injured. The flights originated from the River Oak Acres Airport near Okeechobee, Florida, about 15 minutes before the accident. Before departure a briefing was held regarding the maneuvers that were to be performed. While performing a maneuver, the airplanes collided, then landed uneventfully at the departure airport. A third aircraft was also performing the maneuver with them but was not involved in the collision. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N78321](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N78321), registered now, S/N 2321 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GLOBE 9C-1B - Registry model: [Globe GC-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/globe-gc-1b) (registry code 9230104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2321 - Airframe hours: 4050 - Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-360-C 210 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Kennedy, Michael P. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 5, 1994, 23 hours before ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N80949](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N80949), registered now, S/N 1142, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GLOBE 9C-1B - Registry model: [Globe GC-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/globe-gc-1b) (registry code 9230104) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-300 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-300-series) (registry code 17022, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1142 - Airframe hours: 3066 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: Sterchi, Lowell E. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, January 27, 1994, 49 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N78321; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 4,500 total, 1,320 in this make and model, 4,300 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N80949; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,091 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 2,014 as pilot in command, 49 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FPR, 38 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 19940410010991A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940410010991A), Apr 10, 1994: Univac GC1B, Okeechobee, FL, Substantial damage. During practice aerobatic maneuvors collided with another swift N80949 doing same. Both landed safely. - [Accident 19940410010992A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940410010992A), Apr 10, 1994: Univac GC1B, Okeechobee, FL, Substantial damage. During practice aerobatic manuevers collided with another swift N78321 doing same. Both landed safely. ## Other investigations on N78321 (2) 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. - [NTSB ATL01LA043](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA043), Apr 1, 2001: Globe GC1B (N78321), Cherry Point, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: Fatigue cracking of the propeller hub that resulted in the in-flight separation of a propeller blade. - [NTSB MIA71DLD49](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA71DLD49), Feb 14, 1971: Globe GC-1B (N78321), Wauchula, FL, substantial damage 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.