What happened
Before departing, the crews of two Shorts SD-360-300 aircraft planned to fly in formation to capture video and still photography of each other. During the flight, the aircraft registered as N3735W communicated via radio an intention to descend and execute a right turn toward the second aircraft, N372AC.
During this maneuver, the left wing of N3735W struck the engine and left wing of N372AC. The impact caused N372AC to experience a significant pitch and roll to the left, though the crew managed to stabilize the plane. The collision resulted in a loss of hydraulic fluid, eventually leading to a total failure of the aircraft's hydraulic systems. The crew of N372AC performed an emergency landing at a nearby airfield with the landing gear only partially extended and the flaps retracted. Upon landing, the aircraft overran the runway, stopping approximately 100 feet from the departure threshold. Physical evidence at the scene included white paint transfer, a crushed engine cowling, and torn fuselage skin consistent with a propeller strike.
Following the mid-air impact, N3735W struck the ground. A subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft. The collision resulted in two fatalities, involving the flight crew and a passenger on N3735W. Investigation of the wreckage revealed that the outer portion of the left wing had separated from the main debris and escaped fire damage, while the left aileron from N372AC was located on the runway where the emergency landing occurred.