Aerospatiale TB-9 and Piper PA-38-112 mid-air collision near New Smyrna Bch, Florida, September 15, 1995
On September 15, 1995 at about 8:44 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Aerospatiale TB-9 (N117ER) and Piper PA-38-112 (N2351A), were involved in a mid-air collision near New Smyrna Bch, Florida (New Smyrna Beach Muni airport). 3 people were killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the pilots of both aircraft to see and avoid each other.
the failure of the pilots of both aircraft to see and avoid each other.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 15, 1995 · about 8:44 pm local time
- Place
- New Smyrna Bch, Florida · New Smyrna Beach Muni · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 3 people were killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Aerospatiale TB-9
- Registration
- N117ER · registry record · serial 1509
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Piper PA-38-112 · all PA-38-112s on the register
- Registration
- N2351A · registry record · serial 38-78A0649
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Aerospatiale TB-9 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Aerospatiale TB-9, N117ER, was observed on short final approach, and the Piper PA-38, N2351A, had turned from base to final just above and behind the TB-9. Two pilots on the ground transmitted warnings to the aircraft but no action was taken. The aircraft collided; the TB-9 sustained stabilator damage and nosed down and crashed. The Piper landed without further incident. Pilots on the ground reported seeing the Piper performing takeoffs and landings, and heard the pilot making position reports. The pilots only observed the TB-9 while on short final approach, and did not recall hearing any position reports from the pilots. They stated there were many aircraft with similar call signs and they might have missed the calls. The operator of the TB-9 teaches their pilots to fly a 1.6 nm final approach at a 3 degree descent angle while making visual approaches. Other pilots stated that this practice conflicts with pilots who fly normal close in approaches with a 3/4 to 1 nm final approach leg. The aircraft flying the long final are at a lower altitude where a pilot making a normal visual approach would not expect to see conflicting 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 Piper PA-38-112 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Aerospatiale TB-9, N117ER, was observed on short final approach, and the Piper PA-38, N2351A, had turned from base to final just above and behind the TB-9. Two pilots on the ground transmitted warnings to the aircraft but no action was taken. The aircraft collided; the TB-9 sustained stabilator damage and nosed down and crashed. The Piper landed without further incident. Pilots on the ground reported seeing the Piper performing takeoffs and landings, and heard the pilot making position reports. The pilots only observed the TB-9 while on short final approach, and did not recall hearing any position reports from the pilots. They stated there were many aircraft with similar call signs and they might have missed the calls. The operator of the TB-9 teaches their pilots to fly a 1.6 nm final approach at a 3 degree descent angle while making visual approaches. Other pilots stated that this practice conflicts with pilots who fly normal close in approaches with a 3/4 to 1 nm final approach leg. The aircraft flying the long final are at a lower altitude where a pilot making a normal visual approach would not expect to see conflicting 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 Aerospatiale TB-9 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 668 hours in all; 59 in the last 30 days; 566 as pilot in command; 263 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,429 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 8, 1995; 79 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,337 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320-D2A (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: DAB Daytona Beach FL at 7:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,300 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:56 pm from DAB, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 3 |
The factual record for the Piper PA-38-112 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 79 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 19 in the last 30 days; 20 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,575 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 11, 1995; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,670 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235-L2C (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 34J at 8:40 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,300 ft by 100 ft
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number MIA95FA224.