What happened
During a night flight, two aircraft—a Mitsubishi MU-2, registration N106MA, and an unidentified Cessna 310—attempted to fly in formation. The pilots involved lacked specific training or prior experience regarding night formation maneuvers. While the aircraft were flying together, the pilot of the N106MA indicated an intention to reposition from the right side of the Cessna 310 to the left side.
As the Mitsubishi MU-2 moved to a position behind the Cessna 310, the pilot and passenger aboard the Cessna 310 lost visual contact with the other aircraft. Shortly after the MU-2 fell back in position, a collision occurred between the two planes. The impact caused the Mitsubishi MU-2 to become uncontrollable, resulting in a crash that caused one fatality (the pilot).
The Cessna 310 sustained significant damage, including the loss of its right horizontal stabilizer and damage to its right wing, propellers, and empennage. Despite the damage, the crew and passenger of the Cessna 310 were able to land the aircraft without injury.
Findings
An investigation into the accident identified that the tail light on the Cessna 310 was inoperative, which contributed to the difficulty in maintaining visual contact during the maneuver.