The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this incident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:
Location: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Incident Number: CEN19IA234
Date & Time: July 21, 2019, 10:00 Local
Registration: N9201A (A1); N197CV (A2)
Aircraft: Mooney M20J (A1); Mooney M20U (A2)
Aircraft Damage: Minor (A1); Minor (A2)
Defining Event: Midair collision
Injuries: 2 None (A1); 2 None (A2)
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal (A1); Part 91: General aviation - Personal (A2)
Analysis
Both pilots and their passengers were flying in formation as a part of a mass arrival. The airplanes were a two-ship element with the Mooney M20J as the lead and the Mooney M20U as the wing. They were to join up with the preceding two-ship element after departure.
After takeoff, the pilots of both airplanes were maneuvering into position to the right of the lead airplane in the preceding element. The pilot of Mooney M20U reported that he encountered wake turbulence that forced him above Mooney M20J. The pilot of Mooney M20J reported that he saw Mooney M20U above and forward of his right wing and slowing. Both pilots immediately maneuvered in attempt to deconflict their airplanes before they rejoined the formation and continued the flight. Neither pilot reported feeling the collision and there were no anomalies with either airplane for the remainder of the flight and subsequent landing. After landing, the pilots discovered the damage to the airplanes. The Mooney M20J sustained minor damage to the right outboard wing leading edge and the Mooney M20U sustained minor damage to the rudder.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this incident to be:
The failure of both pilots to remain clear of the other while flying in formation.
Findings
Personnel issues (A1) Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot
Personnel issues (A2) Monitoring other aircraft - Pilot
Factual Information
On July 21, 2019, about 1000 central daylight time a Mooney M20J airplane, N9201A, and a Mooney M20U airplane, N197CV, sustained minor damage when they were involved in an incident near Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Neither pilot nor their passengers were injured. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights.
According to the pilots of both airplanes, they had briefed the mass arrival flight procedures and intended to fly in formation from Dane County Regional Airport - Truax Field (MSN), Madison, Wisconsin, to OSH. The airplanes were a two-ship element with N9201A as the lead and N197CV as the wing. They were to join up with the preceding two-ship element after departing MSN.
After takeoff, the pilots of both airplanes were maneuvering into position to the right of the lead airplane in the preceding element. The pilot of N197CV reported that he encountered wake turbulence that forced him above N9201A. The pilot of N9201A reported that he saw N197CV above and forward of his right wing and slowing. Both pilots immediately maneuvered in attempt to deconflict their airplanes before they rejoined the formation and continued the flight. Neither pilot reported feeling the collision and there were no anomalies with either airplane for the remainder of the flight and subsequent landing. After landing, the pilots discovered the damage to the airplanes. N9201A sustained minor damage to the right outboard wing leading edge and N197CV sustained minor damage to the rudder.
History of Flight
Enroute-cruise (A1) Midair collision (Defining event)
Enroute-cruise (A2) Midair collision
Pilot Information (A1)
Certificate: Airline transport; Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 55, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap only
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Waiver time limited special
Last FAA Medical Exam: February 16, 2019
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: March 15, 2019
Flight Time: 3501 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1500 hours (Total, this make and model), 3014 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 190 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 66 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Pilot Information (A2)
Certificate: Commercial; Flight instructor
Age: 61, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine land; Multi-engine land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane multi-engine; Airplane single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With waivers/limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: May 2, 2019
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 4600 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1800 hours (Total, this make and model), 45 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A1)
Aircraft Make: Mooney
Registration: N9201A
Model/Series: M20J No Series
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 24-0610
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2740 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360-A1B
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 200 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A2)
Aircraft Make: Mooney
Registration: N197CV
Model/Series: M20U
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2015
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special)
Serial Number: 32-0001
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3368 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-550-G
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 310 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KOSH
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 09:53 Local
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 4 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 30°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 24°C / 14°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Madison, WI (KMSN) (A1); Madison, WI (KMSN) (A2)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: VFR/IFR (A1); VFR/IFR (A2)
Destination: Oshkosh, WI (A1); Oshkosh, WI (A2)
Type of Clearance: VFR; VFR flight following (A1); VFR;VFR flight following (A2)
Departure Time: Type of Airspace: Class G (A1); Class G (A2)
Wreckage and Impact Information (A1)
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Minor
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 43.13972,-89.340553(est)
Wreckage and Impact Information (A2)
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Minor
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 43.13972,-89.340553(est)
The Mooney caravan page shows N9201A as lead. Wonder how N197CV ended up in front.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if a "photo op" might have been a contributing cause
ReplyDeleteInadequate training, practice, experience.
ReplyDeleteInadequate training, practice, experience.
Inadequate training, practice, experience.
These guys insist that they do things right but their results tells the real story.
Yes, because EVERY incident is ALWAYS inadequate training, practice, experience.
DeleteThanks for your thoughts, you are obviously a very thoughtful pilot. How wonderful for you it is that you’ve never made a mistake in an airplane. I’m sure both of your friends really appreciate your insights.