What happened
During a low-altitude formation flight involving two aircraft, the pilot of an air taxi plane attempted an emergency maneuver to avoid high-voltage power lines. While the accompanying aircraft successfully climbed to clear the obstacles, the pilot of the second aircraft initiated a sharp turn that resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
The subsequent impact with the ground caused the aircraft to catch fire. The pilot sustained extensive thermal injuries during the crash and later succumbed to those injuries. There were 1 fatality recorded in this incident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical errors made by the pilot in command. The primary factor was a loss of control during flight maneuvers. Specific contributing factors included:
- Failure to maintain required airspeed during the turn
- Improper application of flight procedures
- Failure to adhere to established directives and clearances
- Inadequate maintenance of separation from the lead aircraft