What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While performing formation flying, 4 aircraft were practicing a 4 ship "re-join" maneuver. Aircraft #1 (N33CY) is the lead aircraft, the others join up on the lead. The #2 aircraft joined up and was in position when the #3 aircraft (N10EB) started his join in. N10EB flew below the number 1 aircraft in the formation N33CY and pulled up in front of N33CY. This caused N33CY to strike the tail of N10EB with the propeller, cutting off the complete tail section of N10EB. This caused N10EB to lose control and crash from approximately 2500'MSL. N33CY checked his aircraft power and flying capability and made the decision to return to the airport. N33CY declared an emergency and landed safely.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE PERFORMING FORMATION FLYING, 4 AIRCRAFT WERE PRACTICING A 4 SHIP "RE-JOIN" MANEUVER. AIRCRAFT #1 (N33CY) IS THE LEAD AIRCRAFT, THE OTHERS JOIN UP ON THE LEAD. THE #2 AIRCRAFT JOINED UP AND WAS IN POSITION WHEN THE #3 AIRCRAFT (N10EB) STARTED HIS JOIN IN. N10EB FLEW BELOW THE NUMBER 1 AIRCRAFT IN THE FORMATION N33CY AND PULLED UP IN FRONT OF N33CY. THIS CAUSED N33CY TO STRIKE THE TAIL OF N10EB WITH THE PROPELLER, CUTTING OFF THE COMPLETE TAIL SECTION OF N10EB. THIS CAUSED N10EB TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH FROM APPROXIMATELY 2500'MSL. N33CY CHECKED HIS AIRCRAFT POWER AND FLYING CAPABILITY AND MADE THE DECISION TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. N33CY DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND LANDED SAFELY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other aircraft in the event · 1
Each aircraft in a collision has its own report.
Other reports on N10EB · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.