Cirrus Design CORP SR22 and Boeing 737-7H4 incident near Orlando, Florida, March 27, 2011
On March 27, 2011 at about 9:02 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Cirrus Design CORP SR22 (N1487C) and Boeing 737-7H4 (N293WN), were involved in the same incident near Orlando, Florida (Orlando, Fl airport). No one was hurt; 145 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The air traffic controllers’ application of inappropriate separation between the B737 and the Cirrus and their inappropriate use of airborne civilian aircraft for observation of other airborne aircraft. Contributing to the incident was the crew of the B737's execution of a clearance that resulted in operation near other aircraft.
The air traffic controllers’ application of inappropriate separation between the B737 and the Cirrus and their inappropriate use of airborne civilian aircraft for observation of other airborne aircraft. Contributing to the incident was the crew of the B737's execution of a clearance that resulted in operation near other aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2011 · about 9:02 pm local time
- Place
- Orlando, Florida · Orlando, Fl · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 145 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Cirrus Design CORP SR22
- Registration
- N1487C · registry record · serial 0571
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight of an unrecorded kind · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Boeing 737-7H4 · all 737-7H4s on the register
- Registration
- N293WN · registry record · serial 36612
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Flight · scheduled airline rules (Part 121)
The NTSB's narrative for the Cirrus Design CORP SR22 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A loss of separation occurred between a Boeing B737-700 and a Cirrus SR-22. The minimum required instrument flight rules separation between these two aircraft was 1000 feet vertical or 3 nautical miles lateral. The Cirrus had been out of radio contact with air traffic controllers for approximately 90 minutes. Air traffic controllers at the approach control facility requested that the flight crew of the B737 fly as close as safety permits to the Cirrus to look for any visual indications of problems or difficulties. The flight crew of the B737 agreed to the request. The closest point of approach between the two aircraft, both assigned operating altitudes of 11,000 feet mean sea level, was 100 feet vertical and 0.1 mile lateral.
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 Boeing 737-7H4 final · quoted from the NTSB record
A loss of separation occurred between a Boeing B737-700 and a Cirrus SR-22. The minimum required instrument flight rules separation between these two aircraft was 1000 feet vertical or 3 nautical miles lateral. The Cirrus had been out of radio contact with air traffic controllers for approximately 90 minutes. Air traffic controllers at the approach control facility requested that the flight crew of the B737 fly as close as safety permits to the Cirrus to look for any visual indications of problems or difficulties. The flight crew of the B737 agreed to the request. The closest point of approach between the two aircraft, both assigned operating altitudes of 11,000 feet mean sea level, was 100 feet vertical and 0.1 mile lateral.
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 Cirrus Design CORP SR22 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Comm system malf/failure during enroute
- Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation during enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Flight crew
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › ATC personnel
Crew member
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 542 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: no injuries
Crew member
No details recorded.
The aircraft
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-550 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Robert E Townsend LLC
The flight
- Departed from: MJD Picayune MS at 7:30 pm
- Destination: ISM Kissimee FL
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 14 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MCO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
The factual record for the Boeing 737-7H4 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation during enroute
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › ATC personnel
- factor Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Flight crew
Crew member
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 15,000 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 34 in the last 30 days; 10,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 14, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,000 hours in all; 77 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 3,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 8, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Seats: 140
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Engine 2: Cfm Intl CFM56-7B24 (turbofan); 0 hours total
- Operator: Southwest Airlines CO
The flight
- Departed from: PHX Phoenix AZ at 6:38 pm
- Destination: MCO Orlando FL
- Flight plan: IFR
- A second pilot was aboard
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 3 | |||
| Flight crew | 3 | |||
| Passengers | 137 |
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.