What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The PIC of the accident aircraft and a friend were flying to their cabins in separate aircraft and decided to fly low over lake mille lacs. The two aircraft maintained radio communication. The PIC of the second plane was flying about 50-75’ above the lake and at the seven o’clock position of the accident aircraft. The PIC of the second aircraft stated that the first aircraft was significantly lower than 50-75’. Separation between the two aircraft were estimated to be between ¼ to ½ mile and speeds were approximately 90-95 knots. While at this altitude, the PIC of the accident aircraft contacted the second aircraft via radio stating that he found out his son was traveling on highway 169 and wanted to fly over his son. The two pilots agreed to make a left turn from their current position to head towards the road. The PIC of the second aircraft began a climbing left turn at 95 knots and noticed a splash while in the turn. The PIC of the second aircraft radioed the accident aircraft asking if he had landed with no response two times. The PIC of the second aircraft leveled the wings and noticed a large debris field on the water. The PIC was fatally injured in the accident. The PIC of the second aircraft described the water as having 4-6” waves and wind to be approximately 300@6 knots. During examination of the wreckage, the left wing showed damage consistent with impacting the water at a high speed while the right wing had minimal damage. Control continuity was completed, cylinders had compression and magnetos provided spark.
As the FAA filed it
THE PIC OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT AND A FRIEND WERE FLYING TO THEIR CABINS IN SEPARATE AIRCRAFT AND DECIDED TO FLY LOW OVER LAKE MILLE LACS. THE TWO AIRCRAFT MAINTAINED RADIO COMMUNICATION. THE PIC OF THE SECOND PLANE WAS FLYING ABOUT 50-75’ ABOVE THE LAKE AND AT THE SEVEN O’CLOCK POSITION OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT. THE PIC OF THE SECOND AIRCRAFT STATED THAT THE FIRST AIRCRAFT WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER THAN 50-75’. SEPARATION BETWEEN THE TWO AIRCRAFT WERE ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN ¼ TO ½ MILE AND SPEEDS WERE APPROXIMATELY 90-95 KNOTS. WHILE AT THIS ALTITUDE, THE PIC OF THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE SECOND AIRCRAFT VIA RADIO STATING THAT HE FOUND OUT HIS SON WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 169 AND WANTED TO FLY OVER HIS SON. THE TWO PILOTS AGREED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN FROM THEIR CURRENT POSITION TO HEAD TOWARDS THE ROAD. THE PIC OF THE SECOND AIRCRAFT BEGAN A CLIMBING LEFT TURN AT 95 KNOTS AND NOTICED A SPLASH WHILE IN THE TURN. THE PIC OF THE SECOND AIRCRAFT RADIOED THE ACCIDENT AIRCRAFT ASKING IF HE HAD LANDED WITH NO RESPONSE TWO TIMES. THE PIC OF THE SECOND AIRCRAFT LEVELED THE WINGS AND NOTICED A LARGE DEBRIS FIELD ON THE WATER. THE PIC WAS FATALLY INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE PIC OF THE SECOND AIRCRAFT DESCRIBED THE WATER AS HAVING 4-6” WAVES AND WIND TO BE APPROXIMATELY 300@6 KNOTS. DURING EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE, THE LEFT WING SHOWED DAMAGE CONSISTENT WITH IMPACTING THE WATER AT A HIGH SPEED WHILE THE RIGHT WING HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE. CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS COMPLETED, CYLINDERS HAD COMPRESSION AND MAGNETOS PROVIDED SPARK.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.