On May 1, 1987, about 1548 eastern standard time, a Midwest Packaging Materials Company Cessna-340A, N8716K, and a Rosie O'Grady's of Orlando, Inc., North American SNJ-4, N711SQ, collided in midair about 3,000 feet over Orlando, Florida. The Cessna-340A was level at 3,000 feet operating under instrument flight rules on radar vectors to runway 18R at Orlando International Airport (MCO). The SNJ was in a descent to 1,500 feet and had completed a turn direct to Orlando Executive Airport (ORL) when the airplanes collided. The accident occurred 7 miles northwest of ORL in the outer area of MCO airport radar service area in visual meteorological conditions. Both airplanes were in contact with and were being radar vectored by the Orlando approach control. The Cessna-340A pilot, two passengers, and the SNJ-4 pilot were fatally injured. Both airplanes were destroyed by the collison, ground impact, and postimpact fire. A mobile home was also substantially damaged.
We determined that the probable cause of the accident was the failure of the Orlando West controller to coordinate the handoff of traffic to the Orlando North controller and the failure of the North controller to maintain radar target identification. Contributing to the accident was the limited capability of the radar system to continually track the targets in proximity to one another and the lack of traffic advisories. Also contributing to the accident was the limitation of the "see and avoid" principle in the circumstances of this accident to serve as a means of collision avoidance.
As a result of the investigation, we issued recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration.
