# Accident 20150329004112A: Merian Richard F RV-8, Tuscaloosa, AL, March 29, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 29, 2015, 13:30 local time
- Place: Tuscaloosa, AL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Collision: Midair collision
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.2206° N, 87.6114° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2206&lon=-87.6114&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8JL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8JL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Merian Richard F RV-8 (registry code 0561014, https://openairdocs.org/model/merian-richard-f-rv-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 SER A&C (registry code 41511, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MERIAN RICHARD F RV-8
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER A&C
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 19,700 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA172) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150329004112A

## Narrative

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

AIRMAN WAS PERFORMING AS PART OF A THREE SHIP FORMATION.  AIRMAN WAS TRAILING TWO OTHER AIRCRAFT.  AIRMAN INTENDED TO COMPLETE A BARREL ROLL MANEUVER AROUND THE SMOKE TRAIL OF THE TWO OTHER AIRCRAFT. UPON COMPLETION OF THE FIRST ROLL, AIRMAN WAS POSITIONED  SLIGHTLY AHEAD RATHER THAN BEHIND THE OTHER TWO AIRCRAFT.  THE RIGHT ELEVATOR OF THE ROLLING AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE PROPELLER OF THE RIGHT WINGMAN AS THE ROLLING AIRCRAFT BEGAN ITS SECOND ROLL.  ROLLING AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO HIS RIGHT ELEVATOR AND HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.  RIGHT WINGMAN SUSTAINED DAMAGED TO BOTH PROPELLER BLADES.  ONE BLADE WAS BROKEN IN HALF AND THE OTHER BLADE WAS MISSING ONE THIRD OF THE TIP. RIGHT WINGMAN LANDED AT KTCL.  ROLLING AIRCRAFT LANDED AT M95 AIRPORT AFTER DETERMINING HE COULD MAINTAIN  AIRCRAFT CONTROLLABILITY.

## Other aircraft in the event

- N722DK, Kight Daniel H RV-6: [Accident 20150329004122A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150329004122A)

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA15LA172](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA172), Mar 29, 2015: Merian Richard F RV 8 (N8JL), Tuscaloosa, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The RV-8 pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from the RV-6 while maneuvering during an air show, which resulted in a midair collision.

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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