Cessna 172 and amateur-built BN2A accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, July 13, 2020
On July 13, 2020 at about 3:46 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cessna 172 (N5280D) and amateur-built BN2A (N200MU), were involved in the same accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Ft Lauderdale Executive airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the tower controller’s failure to provide information to each pilot regarding the position and intention of the other pilot.
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid each other while taxiing, which resulted in a ground collision. Contributing to the accident was the tower controller’s failure to provide information to each pilot regarding the position and intention of the other pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2020 · about 3:46 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Ft Lauderdale Executive · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cessna 172 S, built 2002 · all 172s on the register
- Registration
- N5280D · registry record · serial 172S9212
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Amateur-built BN2A 27, built 1971
- Registration
- N200MU · registry record · serial 78
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight · charter and air-taxi rules (Part 135)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 172 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of a single-engine airplane and a multiengine airplane were both cleared to taxi to the runway within 2 minutes of each other; however, the tower controller did not provide either pilot with information regarding the position or taxi intentions of the other pilot as required. The two airplanes converged at a taxiway intersection, resulting in substantial damage to both. Both pilots reported that they were unaware of the proximity of the other airplane and did not see the other airplane before the collision. A review of airport surveillance video indicated that the pilot of the single-engine airplane was approaching the multiengine airplane from its right, rear quadrant at a higher taxi speed. The video also indicated that the multiengine airplane appeared to be within the single-engine airplane pilot’s field of view before the collision, and if the pilot had been properly scanning for traffic, the collision likely would have been averted. The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that a blind spot from his right engine and wing obscured the path of the other airplane. It is also likely that, had the controller provided information to each pilot regarding the position and intentions of the other pilot, they would have exercised greater vigilance regarding scanning for traffic.
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 BN2A final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilots of a single-engine airplane and a multiengine airplane were both cleared to taxi to the runway within 2 minutes of each other; however, the tower controller did not provide either pilot with information regarding the position or taxi intentions of the other pilot as required. The two airplanes converged at a taxiway intersection, resulting in substantial damage to both. Both pilots reported that they were unaware of the proximity of the other airplane and did not see the other airplane before the collision. A review of airport surveillance video indicated that the pilot of the single-engine airplane was approaching the multiengine airplane from its right, rear quadrant at a higher taxi speed. The video also indicated that the multiengine airplane appeared to be within the single-engine airplane pilot’s field of view before the collision, and if the pilot had been properly scanning for traffic, the collision likely would have been averted. The pilot of the multiengine airplane reported that a blind spot from his right engine and wing obscured the path of the other airplane. It is also likely that, had the controller provided information to each pilot regarding the position and intentions of the other pilot, they would have exercised greater vigilance regarding scanning for traffic.
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 172 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › ATC personnel
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,235 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 962 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 28, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,447 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, February 7, 2020; 90 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,558 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-L2A (piston); 1,282 hours total
The flight
- Destination: PMP Pompano Beach FL
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,100 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 79°F (26°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:46 pm from KFXE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the amateur-built BN2A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › ATC personnel
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot of other aircraft
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,324 hours in all; 3,888 in this make and model; 16 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 4,960 as pilot in command; 1,100 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 7, 2019
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18,762 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 10, 2020; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,360 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine 1: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 (piston); 1,032 hours total
- Engine 2: Lycoming O-540-E4C5 (piston); 1,032 hours total
- Operator: Tropic Air Charters
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Destination: MYAM Marsh Harbour OF
- Flight plan: VFR
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N5280D the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
2004-04-17MIA04CA077 · accident near Key West, FL · substantial damage · no injuries
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.