What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)At 1400 CST, modified Douglas DE-3C/BT-67R, TZ389, & Beech A36, N3657A, began formation flight to get DE-3 flying time & for the 2nd occupant of the A36 to get aerial photos of the DC-3. A witness saw the airplanes (acft) at 500' to 700' AGL, 'fly close together heading north.' He said 'the big plane (DC-3) was flying straight & level. The little plane (A36) was just to the west of the big plane. The little plane then hit the big plane near the middle.' After impact, pieces of acft were seen falling. Another witness saw the DC-3 heading north and the A36 circling it above and below. On its last pass, the A36 circled behind the DC-3, then crossed over the top and hitting the top of the DC-3. About 5 seconds after impact, the DC-3 gently rolled/turned westbound (apparently descending and gaining airspeed); the left wing then came off, followed by the right wing about 2 seconds later. Parts of the A36 empennage were found 3590 to 4910 ft from the main wreckage. There was evidence that during impact, the DC-3 elevator and rudder controls were severed. No preimpact anomalies were found. At 1445CST, an AIRMET had been issued, forecasting light to moderate turbulence below 8,000 ft MSL. Toxicology tests of the DC-3 copilot's blood showed 0.127 mcg/ml amitriptyline (a prescription antidepressant with sedative side effects), 0.039 mcg/ml nortriptyline (metabolity of amitriptyline), and an undetermained amount of ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine (over-the-counter medication used in cold preparations, diet aids and stimulants). (-23) while on a photo mission, a company A-36 collided with the DC-3, which was in level flight. Both aircraft shed some control surfaces, and subsequently crashed.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)AT 1400 CST, MODIFIED DOUGLAS DE-3C/BT-67R, TZ389, & BEECH A36, N3657A, BEGAN FORMATION FLIGHT TO GET DE-3 FLYING TIME & FOR THE 2ND OCCUPANT OF THE A36 TO GET AERIAL PHOTOS OF THE DC-3. A WITNESS SAW THE AIRPLANES (ACFT) AT 500' TO 700' AGL, 'FLY CLOSE TOGETHER HEADING NORTH.' HE SAID 'THE BIG PLANE (DC-3) WAS FLYING STRAIGHT & LEVEL. THE LITTLE PLANE (A36) WAS JUST TO THE WEST OF THE BIG PLANE. THE LITTLE PLANE THEN HIT THE BIG PLANE NEAR THE MIDDLE.' AFTER IMPACT, PIECES OF ACFT WERE SEEN FALLING. ANOTHER WITNESS SAW THE DC-3 HEADING NORTH AND THE A36 CIRCLING IT ABOVE AND BELOW. ON ITS LAST PASS, THE A36 CIRCLED BEHIND THE DC-3, THEN CROSSED OVER THE TOP AND HITTING THE TOP OF THE DC-3. ABOUT 5 SECONDS AFTER IMPACT, THE DC-3 GENTLY ROLLED/TURNED WESTBOUND (APPARENTLY DESCENDING AND GAINING AIRSPEED); THE LEFT WING THEN CAME OFF, FOLLOWED BY THE RIGHT WING ABOUT 2 SECONDS LATER. PARTS OF THE A36 EMPENNAGE WERE FOUND 3590 TO 4910 FT FROM THE MAIN WRECKAGE. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT DURING IMPACT, THE DC-3 ELEVATOR AND RUDDER CONTROLS WERE SEVERED. NO PREIMPACT ANOMALIES WERE FOUND. AT 1445CST, AN AIRMET HAD BEEN ISSUED, FORECASTING LIGHT TO MODERATE TURBULENCE BELOW 8,000 FT MSL. TOXICOLOGY TESTS OF THE DC-3 COPILOT'S BLOOD SHOWED 0.127 MCG/ML AMITRIPTYLINE (A PRESCRIPTION ANTIDEPRESSANT WITH SEDATIVE SIDE EFFECTS), 0.039 MCG/ML NORTRIPTYLINE (METABOLITY OF AMITRIPTYLINE), AND AN UNDETERMAINED AMOUNT OF EPHEDRINE AND PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE (OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION USED IN COLD PREPARATIONS, DIET AIDS AND STIMULANTS). (-23) WHILE ON A PHOTO MISSION, A COMPANY A-36 COLLIDED WITH THE DC-3, WHICH WAS IN LEVEL FLIGHT. BOTH AIRCRAFT SHED SOME CONTROL SURFACES, AND SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other aircraft in the event · 1
Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.