The NTSB has released its preliminary report on the mid-air collision at a Dallas air show that killed six people.
In the Nov. 12, 2022, accident at the Wings Over Dallas air show, a Boeing B-17 and Bell P-63 collided at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD), in Texas. All five aboard the B-17 and the P-63 pilot died in the crash. There were no fatalities on the ground.
The P-63F was number three of a three-ship formation of historic fighter airplanes, while the B-17G was lead of a five-ship formation of historic bomber airplanes.
According to the audio of the air show radio transmissions and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) data, the air boss directed both formations to maneuver southwest of the runway before returning to the designated performance area. He directed the fighter formation to transition to a trail formation, fly in front of the bomber formation, and proceed near the 500-foot show line. The bombers were directed to fly down to the 1,000-foot show line.
There were no altitude deconflictions briefed before the flight or while the airplanes were in the air, according to the preliminary report.
Procedures for altitude deconflictions are often established in case pilots end up at an improper altitude during a flight.
When the fighter formation approached the flying display area, the P-63F was in a left bank. It collided with the left side of the B-17G, just aft of the wing section.
Both airplanes broke up in flight, then impacted terrain in a grassy area on the airport south of the approach end of Runway 31. A fire started in the wing center section of the B-17 as it descended to the ground. The B-17 exploded when it hit the ground, investigators report.
The debris field was aligned on a magnetic heading of 320°. It contained all major flight control components of both airplanes, the investigators reported.
Both airplanes had ADS-B. An Avidyne IFD540 was recovered from the B-17 and contained position information relevant to the accident. However, a Garmin GPSMAP 496 recovered from the P-63 did not record any information from the flight.
The wreckage from both the airplanes has been retained for further examination, investigators added.
It usually takes the NTSB 18 months to two years to complete a full investigation and determine the probable cause of an accident.
You can read the full Preliminary Report below.
Not sure how a left banking P-63 collided with the left side of the B-17? I think I remember seeing a film, that the P-63 was in a right bank?
The Cobra was in a left bank. If you are interested you might read more on formation flying. Having your belly up against another aircraft makes it nearly impossible to see them.