Accident analysis
While I certainly respect the deceased and their families, as a long time formation flier I believe we need to understand the cause of this tragic accident so it is never repeated.
I, too, am a long-time formation flier. If useful lessons can be derived from this tragedy, we have a duty to learn them. On 8/15, Doug Reeves briefly reported the accident and said he had details from someone in the back of the flight who saw what happened. He said he'd report more after the NTSB prelim came out. I'm eager to learn more from that narrative.
For completeness, here's the NTSB preliminary report:
"NTSB Identification: CEN11LA573B
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 13, 2011 in Conroe, TX
Aircraft: STEVENS R P/MCCRIGHT D W VANS RV-6, registration: N16DD
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 13, 2011, approximately 1130 central daylight time, N16DD, an experimental Douglas Knab Vans RV-8 airplane, collided with N16DD, an experimental Stevens/McCright Vans RV-6, approximately 15 miles north of Lone Star Executive Airport (CXO), Houston, Texas, while practicing a formation flight for an upcoming airshow. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. No flight plan was filed for the flight that departed CXO at 1100. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
In a written statement, the pilot of N189DK said the purpose of the flight was to practice formation flying for an upcoming airshow. The flight team was comprised of seven pilots and their Vans RV aircraft. Prior to the flight, all seven pilots met for a 30 minute brief, during which time, the formations were discussed and positions/numbers were assigned to each pilot.
The pilot stated that all seven airplanes taxied out to the runway at 1100 and took off. He and the pilot of N16DD were the last two airplanes to depart. After reaching altitude, the lead pilot instructed the pilots to enter their assigned fingertip or V formations. The lead for the fingertip formation then instructed the pilot of N189DK to enter the slot position to make a diamond formation. The pilot said the lead pilot instructed the other pilots in the diamond formation to go trail. Since he was already in the trail position, he observed the other two airplanes, which included N16DD, move into their trail positions and they drifted behind him and out of his view. The pilot said, "After about 5 seconds I heard a loud bang and immediately the engine stopped dead. Fire shot into the cockpit through the fresh air vent and burned my left arm and stomach area. I saw the orange flames on my left arm. The flame went out almost as fast as it came." Another pilot asked him if he was okay, and the pilot responded that someone had hit him although he never saw anyone or anything hit him.
The pilot of N189DK still had control of his airplane and immediately began to look for a place to land. He circled down over a field and landed. During the forced landing, the pilot could see a pillar of smoke rising from a wooded area nearby.
N16DD impacted wooded terrain and a post-impact fire consumed a majority of the airplane.
Several Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors responded to both accident sites, which were approximately .3-miles apart. According to one of the inspectors, examination of N189DK revealed that the propellers blades were scarred at the tip and exhibited red paint transfer. There were also red paint transfer marks on the lower left side of the engine cowling along with impact marks. The right elevator had been impacted from the front and from below. The leading edge of the right wing exhibited impact marks, scrapes and red paint transfer about a quarter of the way down the wing from the fuselage. Both landing gear were spread, and the right gear exhibited broken and dark red paint transfers.
Weather at Lone Star Executive Airport at 1153, was reported as wind from 240 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 4,900 feet, temperature 33 degrees C, dewpoint 22 degrees C, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.99 inches of HG."
The subtle suggestion is?
