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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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March 17, 2023 · Navion Navion A · N610

Mesa, AZ

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 17, 2023
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury), 3 uninjured
Location
Mesa, AZ
Aircraft
Navion Navion A (1950)
Tail Number
N610
Operator
Ttd
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR23LA129

The pilot of a Yakovlev Yak-52 reported that he was in the number three position, off the lead airplane’s left wing while in a four-airplane formation flight. The pilot of the lead airplane initiated a left turn and the formation followed. While in the left turn, the pilot of the number three airplane felt “a bump” from underneath and observed the number four airplane pass under his right wing, and ascend toward the lead airplane. The pilot of the number three airplane realized there had been a mid-air collision, broke away from the formation to the left, and executed an emergency landing. The number three airplane’s right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot of a Ryan Navion reported that, he was in the number four position off of the number three airplane’s left wing in the four-airplane formation flight. The pilot of the lead airplane initiated a left turn and the formation followed. When the pilot of the number four airplane “felt to level off”, his airplane collided with the number three airplane from underneath. He then executed an emergency landing. The fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilots of both airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot of the Ryan Navion’s failure to maintain visual sight of and clearance from another airplane during a formation flight, which resulted in a mid-air collision.

Full Narrative

The pilot of a Yakovlev Yak-52 reported that he was in the number three position, off the lead airplane’s left wing while in a four-airplane formation flight. The pilot of the lead airplane initiated a left turn and the formation followed. While in the left turn, the pilot of the number three airplane felt “a bump” from underneath and observed the number four airplane pass under his right wing, and ascend toward the lead airplane. The pilot of the number three airplane realized there had been a mid-air collision, broke away from the formation to the left, and executed an emergency landing. The number three airplane’s right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot of a Ryan Navion reported that, he was in the number four position off of the number three airplane’s left wing in the four-airplane formation flight. The pilot of the lead airplane initiated a left turn and the formation followed. When the pilot of the number four airplane “felt to level off”, his airplane collided with the number three airplane from underneath. He then executed an emergency landing. The fuselage, vertical stabilizer, and rudder were substantially damaged. The pilots of both airplanes reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplanes that would have precluded normal operation.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:40 MST
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftNavion Navion A
Tail NumberN610
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorTtd
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsContinental · E185 · Reciprocating · 205 | Vedeneyev · M14P · Reciprocating · 350
Seats4

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury), 3 uninjured
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured3
Total4
Crew 1Age 89 · Third Class · Serious
Crew 2None
Crew 3Age 55 · First Class · None
Crew 4None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind3 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 45 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time12:54
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data