Event DCA87MA029

Factual narrative

THE TWO ACFT, A CESSNA 340A AND A NORTH AMERICAN SNJ-4, COLLIDED IN FLT AT APRX 3000 FT MSL OVER ORLANDO, FL IN VMC WITH A VISIBILITY OF 7 MILES. BOTH ACFT WERE IN CONTACT WITH AND BEING RADAR VECTORED BY ORLANDO APPROACH CONTROL. THE C-340 WAS IN LEVEL FLT AND THE SNJ WAS COMPLETING A RIGHT TURN AND STILL DESCENDING TO 1500 FT WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. BOTH ACFT WERE OPERATING UNDER IFR FLT RULES WITH THE C-340 BEING VECTORED TO RWY 18R AT ORLANDO INTERNATIONALARPT (MCO) AND THE SNJ BEING DIRECTED TO ORLANDO EXECUTIVE ARPT (ORL). THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED 7 MILES NW OF ORL IN THE MCO ARPT RADAR SERVICE OUTER AREA. DURING THE VECTORING, THERE WAS A LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN CONTROLLERS DURING A TRANSFER OF CONTROL. THE RECEIVING CONTROLLER FAILED TO MAINTAIN RADAR TARGET IDENTIFICATION. THERE WAS ALSO A LACK OF TRAFFIC ADVISORIES. THE ACFT PLTS WERE LIMITED IN THEIR ABILITY TO SEE DUE TO ACFT STRUCTURE AND RELATIVE POSITIONS TO EACH OTHER. AFTER THE COLLISION, BOTH ACFT CRASHED IN UNCONTROLLED DESCENT. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12