What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Waco N30140 struck stearman N49270, as the Waco was attempting to climb so that he could form up on the left wing of another stearman, N48994 that was in the lead formation of a flight of 2 aircraft. The pilot did not make radio contact with either aircraft before making the maneuver to join the formation. Waco N30140 struck stearman N49270 on the left wing and tail section, then struck the propeller of the stearman N49270. The Waco landed on the beach at cabrillo beach, san pedro, CA.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) WACO N30140 STRUCK STEARMAN N49270, AS THE WACO WAS ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB SO THAT HE COULD FORM UP ON THE LEFT WING OF ANOTHER STEARMAN, N48994 THAT WAS IN THE LEAD FORMATION OF A FLIGHT OF 2 AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT DID NOT MAKE RADIO CONTACT WITH EITHER AIRCRAFT BEFORE MAKING THE MANEUVER TO JOIN THE FORMATION. WACO N30140 STRUCK STEARMAN N49270 ON THE LEFT WING AND TAIL SECTION, THEN STRUCK THE PROPELLER OF THE STEARMAN N49270. THE WACO LANDED ON THE BEACH AT CABRILLO BEACH, SAN PEDRO, CA.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.