What happened
During preparations for a local firefighting mission, a collision occurred on the airport apron involving a B-26 Invader and a private Beechcraft M24R, registration N2529W. The incident took place while the aircraft were taxiing; the Invader was moving in an easterly direction while the Beechcraft was traveling north.
Upon impact, both aircraft ignited, leading to a fire that completely destroyed both airframes. The pilot of the Beechcraft M24R sustained fatal injuries and died at the scene. The pilot operating the Invader suffered serious injuries during the collision and succumbed to those wounds three days after the accident.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements. The primary factor was a distraction that diverted the crew's attention from safe aircraft operation. Additional findings noted that the pilot failed to observe and avoid the other aircraft on the taxiway. Furthermore, air traffic control did not provide the necessary warnings regarding nearby traffic to the flight crew.