What happened
Before takeoff, the crews of two Shorts SD-360-300 aircraft coordinated a plan 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 roll left and pitch downward, though the crew managed to stabilize the aircraft. The collision caused a significant loss of hydraulic fluid, leading to a total failure of the hydraulic systems. The crew 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. Damage to N372AC included crushed engine cowlings, torn wing struts, and fuselage skin damage consistent with a propeller strike.
Following the collision, N3735W struck the ground and was destroyed by a subsequent fire. This accident resulted in two fatalities, including the flight crew and a passenger. Physical evidence at the scene included a detached aileron from N3735W located on the runway where N372AC had landed.