# Accident 19970315003112A: Doug DC3C, Newtonwoc, WI, March 15, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 15, 1997, 15:28 local time
- Place: Newtonwoc, WI
- Damage: Destroyed
- Collision: Midair collision, second aircraft
- Phase of flight: Formation Flying
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft: TZ389 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: DOUG DC3C
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970315003112A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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

- N3657A, Beech A36: [Accident 19970315003111A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970315003111A)

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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