Piper PA-32R-300 and amateur-built RV-6 mid-air collision near Williston, Florida, March 20, 2010
On March 20, 2010 at about 3:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA-32R-300 (N823AG) and amateur-built RV-6 (N788LL), were involved in a mid-air collision near Williston, Florida (Williston Municipal Airport). 3 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilots of both airplanes did not maintain an adequate visual lookout to see and avoid each other.
The pilots of both airplanes did not maintain an adequate visual lookout to see and avoid each other.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 20, 2010 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Williston, Florida · Williston Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA-32R-300 · all PA-32R-300s on the register
- Registration
- N823AG · no longer on the register · serial 32R-7780066
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built RV-6
- Registration
- N788LL · no longer on the register · serial 002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA-32R-300 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplanes were both on approach to the destination airport, operating under visual conditions, when they collided about 3 nautical miles southeast of the destination airport. The wreckage of both airplanes came to rest within 100 yards of one another. The Piper was flying on a course to the right of the RV-6’s departure airport. Around the same time, the RV-6 departed, and both airplanes' flight paths nearly paralleled one another as they continued on course to the destination airport. During the next 7 minutes, the Piper made a gradual descent from 5,200 feet mean sea level (msl) to 1,700 feet msl at a ground speed of about 132 knots. The Piper continued on the same heading until about 2 miles before impact, where it made a gradual left turn. The RV-6 (altitudes unknown) continued on the same flight path until about 4 miles before impact, where it began a slow right turn. The last portion of recorded radar data of the RV-6 and the Piper showed the airplanes were converging on respective true courses of about 328 and 294 degrees. Based upon this radar data, the expected collision angle was calculated to be about 34 degrees. The collision angle between the airplanes was physically determined by measuring the mass intrusion signature of the RV-6's propeller blade into the left wing of the Piper. This signature corresponds to a collision angle of about 44 degrees. Based on this measurement and radar derived ground speeds, the RV-6's convergence angle was calculated to be about 66 degrees right and the Piper’s was 70 degrees left.
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 amateur-built RV-6 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplanes were both on approach to the destination airport, operating under visual conditions, when they collided about 3 nautical miles southeast of the destination airport. The wreckage of both airplanes came to rest within 100 yards of one another. The Piper was flying on a course to the right of the RV-6’s departure airport. Around the same time, the RV-6 departed, and both airplanes' flight paths nearly paralleled one another as they continued on course to the destination airport. During the next 7 minutes, the Piper made a gradual descent from 5,200 feet mean sea level (msl) to 1,700 feet msl at a ground speed of about 132 knots. The Piper continued on the same heading until about 2 miles before impact, where it made a gradual left turn. The RV-6 (altitudes unknown) continued on the same flight path until about 4 miles before impact, where it began a slow right turn. The last portion of recorded radar data of the RV-6 and the Piper showed the airplanes were converging on respective true courses of about 328 and 294 degrees. Based upon this radar data, the expected collision angle was calculated to be about 34 degrees. The collision angle between the airplanes was physically determined by measuring the mass intrusion signature of the RV-6's propeller blade into the left wing of the Piper. This signature corresponds to a collision angle of about 44 degrees. Based on this measurement and radar derived ground speeds, the RV-6's convergence angle was calculated to be about 66 degrees right and the Piper’s was 70 degrees left.
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 Piper PA-32R-300 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 345 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming TIO-540 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DED Deland FL at 3:15 pm
- Destination: X60 Williston FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 3:35 pm from OCF, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built RV-6 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 231 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Superior XP-360; 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OCF Ocala FL at 3:25 pm
- Destination: X60 Williston FL
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.