Flight Details
Two pilots, one flying a Bellanca 7GCBC (registration N50443) and the other flying a Champion 7KCAB (registration N443E), took their girlfriends on a flight that included formation flying. The pilot of the Champion reported that he flew formation with the Bellanca with approximately a 20-foot spread.
Incident Description
Reportedly, about halfway through the flight, while the Champion was positioned on the Bellanca's left wing, the Bellanca pitched up abruptly and went out of formation. After the Bellanca rejoined, the Champion pilot noticed that the Bellanca's left stabilizer was bent on the left side.
Damage Findings
Later, small abrasions were found on the Champion's right wing tip. These abrasions matched the shape of the Bellanca's left stabilizer. The passenger of the Champion indicated that at times during the flight, the two aircraft came in close proximity of each other.