Cessna 340A and North American SNJ-4 mid-air collision near Orlando, Florida, May 1, 1987
On May 1, 1987 at about 7:48 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 340A (N8716K) and North American SNJ-4 (N711SQ), were involved in a mid-air collision near Orlando, Florida (Orlando Executive airport). 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 1987 · about 7:48 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando Executive · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 340A · all 340As on the register
- Registration
- N8716K · no longer on the register · serial 340A0629
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- North American SNJ-4 · all SNJ-4s on the register
- Registration
- N711SQ · registry record · serial 8812709
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 340A final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO ACFT, A CESSNA 340A AND A NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4, COLLIDED IN FLT AT APRX 3000 FT MSL OVER ORLANDO, FL IN VMC WITH A VISIBILITY OF 7 MILES. BOTH ACFT WERE IN CONTACT WITH AND BEING RADAR VECTORED BY ORLANDO APPROACH CONTROL. THE C-340 WAS IN LEVEL FLT AND THE SNJ WAS COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN AND STILL DESCENDING TO 1500 FT WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING UNDER IFR FLT RULES WITH THE C-340 BEING VECTORED TO RWY 18R AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONALARPT (MCO) AND THE SNJ BEING DIRECTED TO ORLANDO EXECUTIVE ARPT (ORL). THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 7 MILES NW OF ORL IN THE MCO ARPT RADAR SERVICE OUTER AREA. DURING THE VECTORING, THERE WAS A LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN CONTROLLERS DURING A TRANSFER OF CONTROL. THE RECEIVING CONTROLLER FAILED TO MAINTAIN RADAR TARGET IDENTIFICATION. THERE WAS ALSO A LACK OF TRAFFIC ADVISORIES. THE ACFT PLTS WERE LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO SEE DUE TO ACFT STRUCTURE AND RELATIVE POSITIONS TO EACH OTHER. AFTER THE COLLISION, BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the North American SNJ-4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE TWO ACFT, A CESSNA 340A AND A NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4, COLLIDED IN FLT AT APRX 3000 FT MSL OVER ORLANDO FL IN VMC WITH A VISIBILITY OF 7 MILES. BOTH ACFT WERE IN CONTACT WITH AND BEING RADAR VECTORED BY ORLANDO APPROACH CONTROL. THE C-340 WAS IN LEVEL FLT AND THE SNJ WAS COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN AND STILL DESCENDING TO 1500 FT WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING UNDER IFR FLT RULES WITH THE C-340 BEING VECTORED TO RWY 18R AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONALARPT (MCO) AND THE SNJ BEING DIRECTED TO ORLANDO EXECUTIVE ARPT (ORL). THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 7 MILES NW OF ORL IN THE MCO ARPT RADAR SERVICE OUTER AREA. DURING THE VECTORING, THERE WAS A LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN CONTROLLERS DURING A TRANSFER OF CONTROL. THE RECEIVING CONTROLLER FAILED TO MAINTAIN RADAR TARGET IDENTIFICATION. THERE WAS ALSO A LACK OF TRAFFIC ADVISORIES. THE ACFT PLTS WERE LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO SEE DUE TO ACFT STRUCTURE AND RELATIVE POSITIONS TO EACH OTHER. AFTER THE COLLISION BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Cessna 340A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,335 hours in all; 340 in this make and model; 2,335 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 3, 1987; 91 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,330 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Continental TSIO-520 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Huntsville AL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: MCO Orlando FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from ORL, 7 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 2 |
The factual record for the North American SNJ-4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,118 hours in all; 296 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,226 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 6, 1987
- Maximum gross weight: 5,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: ORL Orlando FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- Runway 0
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.