What happened
On March 10, 2022, at approximately 16:15 local time, two aerobatic aircraft collided during a formation practice session at the Dinslaken Schwarze Heide airfield. The two aircraft, an Extra 300/SHP (Aircraft 1) and an Extra 300 SC (Aircraft 2), were performing a coordinated maneuver designed to create a heart shape using smoke systems. The flight involved a sequence of vertical climbs and loops in a designated aerobatic box.
During the fourth repetition of the maneuver, the aircraft were flying in a trail formation. As the lead aircraft performed a half-roll during a vertical climb, the pilot of the trailing aircraft looked upward into the low-positioned sun. This caused a sudden glare that resulted in the loss of visual contact with the lead aircraft. Attempting to maintain separation, the pilot of Aircraft 2 applied back pressure on the elevator. However, the aircraft was actually positioned directly above the cockpit of the trailing plane rather than below it. This maneuver directed the trailing aircraft into the flight path of the leader, causing the right wing of Aircraft 2 to strike the elevator and vertical stabilizer of Aircraft 1.
Following the impact, Aircraft 1 became unflightworthy and entered an uncontrolled vertical descent. The pilot of Aircraft 1 successfully exited the aircraft using a parachute, landing unharmed in a nearby wooded area. The aircraft struck an asparagus field and was destroyed. Aircraft 2 sustained heavy damage, including a torn right wing and a collapsed landing gear, but remained flyable and was able to perform an emergency landing on runway 08.
The investigation
The BFU investigation utilized amateur video footage of the accident to reconstruct the flight paths and the sequence of the collision. The investigators examined the wreckage of both aircraft, noting that parts of the tail section from Aircraft 1 were embedded in the right wing of Aircraft 2. The investigation also reviewed the flight training protocols used by the pilots, which were based on NATA (North American Trainer Association) guidelines, including pre-flight briefings and established formation maneuvers.