What happened
On a recent afternoon near Warrenton, Virginia, two light aircraft collided in midair at an altitude of approximately 1,800 feet above sea level. The first aircraft, a Beechcraft V35B Bonanza with registration N6658R, was performing a southbound shallow climb as part of a biennial flight review under visual flight rules. Simultaneously, a Piper PA-28-140 (registration N23SC) was traveling in a southeasterly direction in level flight, also operating under visual flight rules.
At 16:04:45 EDT, the two aircraft collided. The impact caused the Beechcraft V35B Bonanza to break up while still in flight, resulting in two fatalities for the pilot and flight instructor on board. A fire occurred at the wreckage site following the breakup. The pilot of the Piper PA-28-140, who was flying solo, was able to perform a forced landing in a pasture located roughly 6 nautical miles south of the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport. The pilot of the Piper sustained injuries that necessitated medical evaluation at a local hospital.
The investigation
The investigation involved a unique international collaboration. Because the aircraft involved were owned by employees of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the United States and Canada agreed to a delegation of the investigation. The NTSB acted as the State of Occurrence, while the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) assisted in the process under the framework of Annex 1mu13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.