The basic mechanisms of collision induced fragmentation of small sodium cluster ions (Na-n(+) n < 9) at keV collision energy are investigated by measuring the velocity vectors of the two fragments employing a new type of coincidence experiment. The results suggest that in most of the cases the lost of one Na atom can be interpreted as relevant of an impulsive mechanism. On the other hand, the lost of one Na+ ion seems to require transition to an electronically excited state of the cluster.