What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
At 1400 CST, modified Douglas CD-3C/BT-67R, TZ389, & Beech A36, N3657A, began formation flight to get DC-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, 'flying 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, piees of acft were seen falling. Another witness saw the DC-3 heading north & the A36 circling it above & below. On its last pass, the A36 circled behind the DC-3, then crossed over the top & hitting the top of the DC-3. About 5 seconds after impact, the DC-3 gently rolled/turned westbound (apparently descending & 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 CD-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 test 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 (metabolite of amitriptyline), and an undetermined amount of ephedrine and phenylpropanolamine (over-the-counter medications used in cold preparations, diet aids & 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
AT 1400 CST, MODIFIED DOUGLAS CD-3C/BT-67R, TZ389, & BEECH A36, N3657A, BEGAN FORMATION FLIGHT TO GET DC-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, 'FLYING 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, PIEES OF ACFT WERE SEEN FALLING. ANOTHER WITNESS SAW THE DC-3 HEADING NORTH & THE A36 CIRCLING IT ABOVE & BELOW. ON ITS LAST PASS, THE A36 CIRCLED BEHIND THE DC-3, THEN CROSSED OVER THE TOP & HITTING THE TOP OF THE DC-3. ABOUT 5 SECONDS AFTER IMPACT, THE DC-3 GENTLY ROLLED/TURNED WESTBOUND (APPARENTLY DESCENDING & 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 CD-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 TEST 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 (METABOLITE OF AMITRIPTYLINE), AND AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF EPHEDRINE AND PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE (OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATIONS USED IN COLD PREPARATIONS, DIET AIDS & 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.
Other aircraft in the event · 1
Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.