What happened
The pilot reported that he was participating in a formation takeoff as the second aircraft in the group. During the initial climb phase, he encountered severe wake turbulence generated by the lead aircraft, which was of the same type. The turbulent air currents significantly degraded the performance of his aircraft.
Despite attempting to dump his load of chemicals to reduce weight and improve climb performance, the pilot was unable to gain sufficient altitude to clear the obstacles or maintain controlled flight. The aircraft settled into a bean field while in a three-point attitude before flipping inverted.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aerodynamic effects of formation flying and the specific weather conditions at the time. It confirmed that the proximity of the two aircraft during takeoff created significant wake turbulence. The pilot's account of dumping chemicals was verified as an attempt to mitigate the performance loss caused by the turbulent air.
Findings
The primary factor in this incident was the severe wake turbulence encountered from the lead aircraft. The pilot's inability to climb above the power curve, despite weight reduction efforts, highlights the dangers of close formation flying during the critical takeoff phase. The bean field landing resulted in significant damage to the airframe.
Safety message
Pilots engaging in formation flight must maintain adequate lateral and vertical separation to avoid wake turbulence, especially during low-speed phases like takeoff and landing. Awareness of the aerodynamic effects generated by nearby aircraft is critical for safety.