Orlando Intl — Safety History & Runway Risks
NTSB accident analysis for KMCO: 11 events analyzed
Orlando, FL · 96.4 ft MSL · 4 runways
Based on 11 NTSB events at KMCO (Orlando Intl), the most important risks for pilots are:
- Wrong runway departure / situational awareness on the ground. In March 2025, a Southwest Airlines 737 captain initiated takeoff from the wrong runway, failing to verify aircraft position against the assigned departure runway per SOPs. At a complex four-parallel-runway airport with similar headings (all within a degree of 179/359), GA pilots face the same or greater risk of runway confusion, especially at night or under time pressure.
- Gusty crosswind conditions during landing and go-around. Two events directly involve gusty wind encounters: an Airbus A321 in August 2019 sustained substantial damage after encountering 31-knot gusts at low altitude during a go-around with an excessive rotation rate, and an Embraer EMB-500 in October 2021 lost directional control on rollout in a 12G16 crosswind. All four runways share a north-south heading (179/359), meaning winds from any significant east-west component produce crosswinds with no runway alternative available at this airport.
- Brake failure and asymmetric braking leading to runway excursions. Three events involve brake-related runway excursions: the 2021 EMB-500 (inadvertent right-brake application on rollout), the 2016 Liberty XL-2 (right brake failure leading to excursion and gear collapse, pilot continued after noticing anomaly), and the 2024 HA-420 (substantial damage, investigation ongoing). Brake-related events span light GA to business jets across multiple years.
Source: NTSB accident records analyzed by Tropiq. Updated 4/14/2026.
Safety History
11 eventsKMCO has recorded 11 NTSB events from 2008–2025, with no fatalities and only two serious injuries across all events. The airport presents moderate risk concentrated in ground operations (runway excursions, wrong runway departures, jet blast, and aggressive braking) and weather-related hazards (gusty crosswinds and turbulence on approach). GA pilots should be particularly alert to the complexity of a four-parallel-runway layout, heavy jet traffic, and the potential for jet blast and wake turbulence in the ground environment.
Across 17 years, KMCO has a relatively modest accident record for a major international airport, with zero fatalities and only two serious injuries. The event mix is diverse, but ground operations and wind-related landing/departure incidents are the most recurrent themes.
- •Zero fatalities across all 11 recorded events, indicating that incidents at KMCO have generally been survivable.
- •Two serious injury events: a 2008 turbulence encounter injuring a flight attendant, and a 2024 aggressive braking event injuring a passenger — both aboard commercial aircraft, not GA.
- •VMC conditions were present in 9 of 11 events, confirming that weather alone is not the primary causal factor; pilot decision-making and situational awareness dominate.
- •Brake and directional control issues appear in at least three separate events (2016, 2021, 2024), representing the single most recurrent mechanical/handling failure mode.
- •GA aircraft involved in events include: Cessna 172 (2008), Cirrus SR-22 (2011 loss of separation), Kitfox (2023 jet blast), Liberty XL-2 (2016 runway excursion) — four of eleven events had a direct GA component.
- •Night operations (NITE/NBRT) appear in three events (2008 turbulence, 2016 Liberty excursion, 2024 Airbus braking) — increased vigilance warranted for after-dark operations.
Runway Analysis
Key Risks
Common Causes
Seasonal Patterns
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database. Analysis generated 2026-04-14. This data is provided for flight planning awareness and does not replace official safety briefings.
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