20030111000259A

(.19)On January 11, 2003, about 1600 mountain standard time, a Cessna 182H, N8567S, collided with a Grumman F6F-5, N4994V, in midair about 1 mile east of Parker, Arizona. Both airplanes were operated by the pilots under 14 CFR part 91. The private pilot and passenger in the Cessna sustained fatal injuries. The airline transport pilot in the Grumman was not injured. The Cessna was destroyed; the Grumman received substantial damage to the left wing tip and performed an uneventful landing at the Parker (uncontrolled) airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flights, and no flight plan had been filed for either airplane. Both airplanes departed the Parker airport prior to the collision. On the day of the accident, Parker airport, also known as avi suquilla, was hosting an "air expo" and there were over 4,000 people in attendance. The air expo was to provide a static display of the airplanes for the attendees. Aircraft operators performed aerial formation flights, flybys, and parachuting demonstrations. The event was sponsored by the blue water casino; the airport and casino are enterprises of the Colorado river indian tribe (crit). The Grumman airplane was. Participating in the event with other "warbirds" owned by private individuals and organizations. According to witnesses, the transient Cessna was departing on runway 19 with a left climbing turnout northbound on the downwind leg, destined for lake havasu city. The Grumman was returning to Parker airport to land after a local photo shoot with another airplane. The collision occurred about midfield on the left downwind leg for runway 19. The Grumman pilot stated that he was not aware of the Cessna's departure or position, and observed it just before the collision. Thereafter, the airport manager dispatched the attending fire department equipment and a police helicopter to the scene. The manager assisted in the parking and securing of the Grumman away from the attending crowd. The airport routinely provides an aeronautical advisory station (UNICOM) on 122.725 mhz, and provides wind and preferred runway information. Under normal procedures, the UNICOM operator would log the call sign of aircraft using the airport. On the day of the accident, due to the volume of traffic, the log was not used. The UNICOM operator did not recall hearing the Cessna on frequency. Preliminary visual examination of the Cessna's two damaged communication radios revealed the top radio was indicating 122.7, and the other was 121.902 mhz. (-23) pilot stated that he had been out on photo shoot and return to P20 entered the traffic area from the north. Had been monitoring UNICOM, reported inbound for overhead for runway 19. Reported other aircraft in position and decided to follow a F-86 turning base. Flew runway centerline (19) at about 600 AGL. Near departure end of the runway looked left to see any traffic in left break on down wind leg. Did not see any traffic, announced that he was in left bank for downwind and turned left to the downwind leg and climbed to pattern altitude, located other reported aircraft, followed F-86 on wind down wind. About mid-field, started prelanding checklist, looked out the left side of cockpit to see relationship to runway. At that instant, another aircraft came into view from below and ahead, striking the other aircraft with his left wing before he could react. The other aircraft looked like it was in a nose up and at a slight angle off from pilots heading by 10 to 15 degrees to the left. After striking the aircraft pilot lost sight of I t and he concentrated on his situation. He stayed airborne until several other aircraft landed ahead of him, then landed without further incident.