Accident
On October 10, 2009, at approximately 1440 central daylight time, two Cessna 150F airplanes, N8642S (lead) and N8072F (wingman), were substantially damaged following an in-flight collision near Alexandria, Louisiana. The lead airplane carried a pilot and a passenger, both of whom sustained fatal injuries. The wingman pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger on board was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plans were filed. Both aircraft departed Esler Airport (KESF) at about 1435 as a two-ship formation, intending to perform a low pass at Pineville Municipal Airport (K2L0) followed by a full stop landing.
The wingman reported that the formation conducted a low pass approximately 200 feet above ground level, offset about 400 feet from the runway. During the climb to enter the downwind pattern, lead radioed his intention to turn right. The wingman, concerned about his relative position, radioed that lead should not turn too hard. Lead banked approximately 45 degrees to the right. The wingman pitched nose up and rolled quickly to the right to separate but felt the collision and saw flashes of blue.
A local photographer captured images showing the lead airplane inverted, its right wing buckled toward the fuselage, and the empennage separated. Lead's vertical fin and various debris were suspended in the air. The wingman's airplane appeared in a right bank exceeding 90 degrees.
Aircraft Information
N8642S was a 1965 Cessna 150F, serial number 15061942, powered by a 100-horsepower Teledyne Continental Motors O-200-A engine. Its last annual inspection was March 8, 2009, at a tachometer reading of 5,873.11 hours. At the accident, the tachometer read 5,898.67 hours.
N8072F was a 1966 Cessna 150F, serial number 15064172, with the same engine and not configured with shoulder restraints. Its last annual inspection was March 5, 2009, at a tachometer reading of 4,294.65 hours. At the accident, the tachometer read 4,329.76 hours.
Personnel Information
The lead pilot, age 53, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land issued June 4, 2003, and a third-class medical certificate dated January 13, 2009, with the limitation "must have available glasses for near vision." He reported 530 total hours on his medical application; his total hours were calculated to be no less than 555.56 hours. He had no formal formation training, and the extent of his formation experience could not be determined.
The wingman pilot, age 48, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land issued August 27, 2002, and a third-class medical certificate dated August 26, 2008, with no limitations. He reported 886 total flying hours, with 536 hours in the same make and model. He stated he had no formal formation training but flew formation about once a month and did not routinely practice aircraft separation maneuvers.
Meteorological Information
At 1453, a weather reporting station at Alexandria International Airport (KAEX), 5 nautical miles west of the accident site, reported wind from 070 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast ceiling at 1,300 feet, temperature 66°F, dew point 61°F, and barometric pressure 30.08 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Lead's vertical fin separated and was found 214 feet from its main wreckage. Black discoloration was present on the upper half of the fin's right side. Lead's wreckage was surrounded by mature trees, with ground scars consistent with impact at very little forward velocity. The right wing was folded at the flap-aileron junction, and three propeller blade strikes were on the leading edge, one on the wing spar.
Wingman's wreckage was in a heavily wooded area about 180 feet away. Tree damage indicated impact at a near 45-degree angle, rotating 60 degrees clockwise before coming to rest in a nose-low attitude. Blue paint was found on the left wing strut, under the left wing, on the left wing's leading edge, and on the non-chambered side of a propeller blade. Both propeller blades showed gouges and chord-wise scratches.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy of the lead pilot on October 12, 2009, listed cause of death as multiple injuries. Toxicology testing detected carisoprodol in blood (0.629 µg/mL) and urine, cyclobenzaprine in urine (not in blood), and meprobamate in blood (0.717 µg/mL), an active metabolite of carisoprodol. Both carisoprodol and cyclobenzaprine are prescription muscle relaxants. The pilot's medical application did not note these medications but recorded an emergency room visit for back ache in June 2008. The wingman and his passenger survived; no toxicology testing was performed on the wingman.
Additional Information
A Lowrance Airmap 500 was recovered from lead's wreckage, and a Garmin III Pilot and Garmin GPSMAP 396 from the wingman's. Only the Garmin III Pilot contained usable data, preventing a full midair reconstruction.
Advisory Circular AC 90-48B advises pilots to avoid attempting formation flight without proper instruction and skill.
United States Air Force Formation Guidelines (AFMAN 11-248) state that lead should consider the wingman's position and execute maneuvers smoothly, and that the wingman's primary responsibility is to maintain flightpath deconfliction.