Piper PA34 and Cessna 172 mid-air collision near Miami, Florida, July 17, 2018
On July 17, 2018 at about 4:59 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA34 (N16281) and Cessna 172 (N6428D), were involved in a mid-air collision near Miami, Florida. 4 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots in both airplanes to see and avoid the other airplane as they converged nearly head-on at the same altitude.
The failure of both pilots in both airplanes to see and avoid the other airplane as they converged nearly head-on at the same altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2018 · about 4:59 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 4 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA34 200, built 1973 · all PA34s on the register
- Registration
- N16281 · no longer on the register · serial 34-7350122
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 172 N, built 1979 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N6428D · no longer on the register · serial 17272794
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA34 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A low-wing multiengine airplane departed the airport on an evaluation flight in the local training area with a commercial pilot candidate and designated pilot examiner onboard. The student pilot and a flight instructor onboard a high-wing airplane were returning to the same airport on a cross-country instructional flight. About 6 minutes after the low-wing airplane departed, the airplanes collided nearly straight-on about 1,500 ft mean sea level and 9 miles northwest of the airport. At the time, the low-wing airplane was clear of the Class D airspace and no longer communicating with air traffic control (ATC). One of the pilots in the high-wing airplane had contacted ATC just before the collision. The controller acknowledged the transmission and issued a traffic advisory, but no further communications were received. Neither airplane was equipped with a traffic information system, nor were they required to be. An aircraft performance and cockpit visibility study revealed that both airplanes would have remained relatively small, slow-moving objects in each other's windows until about 12 seconds before the collision, and subsequently grown in size suddenly; however, it is likely that none of the pilots saw the other airplane given that radar data does not indicate that either airplane performed evasive maneuvers to avoid the collision No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were identified with either airplane. Toxicology testing identified low levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and metabolites in the high-wing flight instructor's blood and urine. Their presence indicates that the instructor had used marijuana at some time before the accident, but it is unlikely that the psychoactive effects of THC remained or contributed to the accident.
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 Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A low-wing multiengine airplane departed the airport on an evaluation flight in the local training area with a commercial pilot candidate and designated pilot examiner onboard. The student pilot and a flight instructor onboard a high-wing airplane were returning to the same airport on a cross-country instructional flight. About 6 minutes after the low-wing airplane departed, the airplanes collided nearly straight-on about 1,500 ft mean sea level and 9 miles northwest of the airport. At the time, the low-wing airplane was clear of the Class D airspace and no longer communicating with air traffic control (ATC). One of the pilots in the high-wing airplane had contacted ATC just before the collision. The controller acknowledged the transmission and issued a traffic advisory, but no further communications were received. Neither airplane was equipped with a traffic information system, nor were they required to be. An aircraft performance and cockpit visibility study revealed that both airplanes would have remained relatively small, slow-moving objects in each other's windows until about 12 seconds before the collision, and subsequently grown in size suddenly; however, it is likely that none of the pilots saw the other airplane given that radar data does not indicate that either airplane performed evasive maneuvers to avoid the collision No preimpact mechanical malfunctions were identified with either airplane. Toxicology testing identified low levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and metabolites in the high-wing flight instructor's blood and urine. Their presence indicates that the instructor had used marijuana at some time before the accident, but it is unlikely that the psychoactive effects of THC remained or contributed to the accident.
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 PA34 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 253 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Pilot (unmanned)
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 26,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,153 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 19, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 4,200 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 (piston); 10,207 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming LIO-360-C1E6 (piston); 11,401 hours total
- Operator: Dean International Inc
The flight
- Departed from: TMB Miami FL at 4:53 pm
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from TMB, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
The factual record for the Cessna 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Instructor/check pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Student/instructed pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Flight instructor
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 311 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 52 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,447 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, June 13, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2G (piston); 13,256 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Dean International Inc
The flight
- Departed from: IMM Immokalee FL at 4:17 pm
- Destination: TMB Miami FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.