Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary CEN19IA234

Oshkosh, WI, USA

Aircraft #1

N9201A

Mooney M20J

Aircraft #2

N197CV

MOONEY M20U

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.

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.

Probable Cause and Findings

The failure of both pilots to remain clear of the other while flying in formation.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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