What happened
During a scheduled night cargo operation, a Beechcraft 18 was preparing for departure from a runway after receiving clearance from air traffic control to align with the centerline. The pilot, who was the only person on board, had begun increasing engine power for takeoff when a second aircraft entered the same runway area.
A Federal Express (FedEx) Dassault Falcon 20, registered N36FE, had just completed its landing on the same runway and collided with the departing aircraft. The impact occurred when the right wing of the Falcon 20 struck the Beechcraft, causing an immediate fire that consumed the smaller plane.
The crew of the N36FE managed to bring their aircraft to a stop without further incident, though the jet sustained minor damage. The pilot of the Beechcraft 18 was able to exit the wreckage and survived the accident with minor injuries, but the aircraft itself was completely destroyed by the flames.
Findings
Investigations into the collision determined that the accident resulted from a ground collision between the two aircraft. This event was triggered by improper or conflicting instructions provided to the pilots by air traffic control personnel.