Piper PA 34 and Cessna 500 accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, August 13, 2016
On August 13, 2016 at about 4:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Piper PA 34 (N8166U) and Cessna 500 (N70SW), were involved in the same accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Fort Lauderdale Executive airport). No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to ensure that the brake was fully engaged and his subsequent failure to notice that his airplane was rolling forward, which resulted in it hitting another airplane.
The other pilot's failure to ensure that the brake was fully engaged and his subsequent failure to notice that his airplane was rolling forward, which resulted in it hitting another airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2016 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida · Fort Lauderdale Executive · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 3 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Piper PA 34 200T, built 1980 · all PA 34s on the register
- Registration
- N8166U · registry record · serial 34-8070173
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 500 CITATION, built 1974 · all 500s on the register
- Registration
- N70SW · no longer on the register · serial 500-0236
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Piper PA 34 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the parked airplane reported that he and his co-pilot had just re-entered the airplane and were having a conversation when he felt the airplane shake and heard a loud noise. He further reported that he looked out of the right window and saw an aircraft with its propeller hitting the right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot of the other airplane reported that, after engine start and before taxi for takeoff, he was looking at his navigation communications and did not notice the airplane rolling forward. The airplane rolled forward and collided with the airplane in front of it. The pilot further reported that he was unaware of the airplane's forward movement and that the thought that the hand brake was fully engaged. The airplane sustained minor damage. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 500 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the parked airplane reported that he and his co-pilot had just re-entered the airplane and were having a conversation when he felt the airplane shake and heard a loud noise. He further reported that he looked out of the right window and saw an aircraft with its propeller hitting the right wing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot of the other airplane reported that, after engine start and before taxi for takeoff, he was looking at his navigation communications and did not notice the airplane rolling forward. The airplane rolled forward and collided with the airplane in front of it. The pilot further reported that he was unaware of the airplane's forward movement and that the thought that the hand brake was fully engaged. The airplane sustained minor damage. Neither pilot reported any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.
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 34 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) start-up) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,985 hours in all; 1,445 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 30, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,336 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 14, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 4,570 lb
- Seats: 6
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cont Motor TSIO-360 SER (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Eli Air Center INC.
The flight
- Departed from: MYER Rock Sound at 3:00 pm
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: VFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 12 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from KFXE
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 500 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) not oper) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Brake › Not used/operated
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,500 hours in all; 120 in this make and model; 8,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 25, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 550 hours in all; 15 in this make and model
- Last flight review: May 26, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,797.8 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, November 1, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 11,500 lb
- Seats: 8
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Pratt & Whitney JT15D-1 (turbofan); 861 hours total
- Engine 2: Pratt & Whitney JT15D-1 (turbofan); 1,424 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MYNN Nassau at 3:45 pm
- Destination: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL
- Flight plan: VFR
- 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.