# NTSB CEN19IA234: Mooney M20J, N9201A, Oshkosh, WI, July 21, 2019 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Class 3 · Incident · Final report - Date: July 21, 2019, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 43.13972, -89.340553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1397&lon=-89.3406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining events: [Enroute-cruise: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250); [Enroute-cruise: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 4 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99916 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19IA234 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99916/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99916 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19IA234 ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) The failure of both pilots to remain clear of the other while flying in formation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring other aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Mooney International M20U, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md?model=5870232), [All aircraft, 231 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021540/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 1; cases with it: [Mooney M20J, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=5870219), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Midair collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250) (defining event), aircraft 2; cases with it: [Mooney International M20U, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md?model=5870232), [All aircraft, 196 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/250/sequence.md) ## Analysis (aircraft 1) Both pilots and their passengers were flying in formation as a part of a mass arrival. The airplanes were a two-ship element with the Mooney M20J as the lead and the Mooney M20U as the wing. They were to join up with the preceding two-ship element after departure. After takeoff, the pilots of both airplanes were maneuvering into position to the right of the lead airplane in the preceding element. The pilot of Mooney M20U reported that he encountered wake turbulence that forced him above Mooney M20J. The pilot of Mooney M20J reported that he saw Mooney M20U above and forward of his right wing and slowing. Both pilots immediately maneuvered in attempt to deconflict their airplanes before they rejoined the formation and continued the flight. Neither pilot reported feeling the collision and there were no anomalies with either airplane for the remainder of the flight and subsequent landing. After landing, the pilots discovered the damage to the airplanes. The Mooney M20J sustained minor damage to the right outboard wing leading edge and the Mooney M20U sustained minor damage to the rudder. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On July 21, 2019, about 1000 central daylight time a Mooney M20J airplane, N9201A, and a Mooney M20U airplane, N197CV, sustained minor damage when they were involved in an incident near Wittman Regional Airport (OSH), Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Neither pilot nor their passengers were injured. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. According to the pilots of both airplanes, they had briefed the mass arrival flight procedures and intended to fly in formation from Dane County Regional Airport - Truax Field (MSN), Madison, Wisconsin, to OSH. The airplanes were a two-ship element with N9201A as the lead and N197CV as the wing. They were to join up with the preceding two-ship element after departing MSN. After takeoff, the pilots of both airplanes were maneuvering into position to the right of the lead airplane in the preceding element. The pilot of N197CV reported that he encountered wake turbulence that forced him above N9201A. The pilot of N9201A reported that he saw N197CV above and forward of his right wing and slowing. Both pilots immediately maneuvered in attempt to deconflict their airplanes before they rejoined the formation and continued the flight. Neither pilot reported feeling the collision and there were no anomalies with either airplane for the remainder of the flight and subsequent landing. After landing, the pilots discovered the damage to the airplanes. N9201A sustained minor damage to the right outboard wing leading edge and N197CV sustained minor damage to the rudder. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N9201A](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9201A), registered now, S/N 24-0610, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20J (No Series) - Registry model: [Mooney M20J](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20j) (registry code 5870219) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 24-0610 - Year built: 1978 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: KMSN, Madison, WI - Destination: Oshkosh, WI - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Equipment: Onboard weather, Handheld GPS, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N197CV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N197CV), registered now, S/N 32-0001, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOONEY M20U - Registry model: [Mooney International M20U](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-international-m20u) (registry code 5870232) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 32-0001 - Year built: 2015 - Engines: Continental IO-550-G 310 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KMSN, Madison, WI - Destination: Oshkosh, WI - Flight plan: VFR/IFR - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9201A; age 55; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, waiver time limited special; last flight review March 15, 2019; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 3,501 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 3,014 as pilot in command, 190 in the last 90 days, 66 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N197CV; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,600 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KOSH ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20190721016592I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190721016592I), Jul 21, 2019: Mooney M20J, Madison, WI, Minor damage. Aircraft touched while in formation after taking off from msn enroute to osh - [Incident 20190721008892I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190721008892I), Jul 21, 2019: Mooney International Corp M20U, Madison, WI, Minor damage. Aircraft touched while in formation after taking off from msn enroute to osh ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99916. 52.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (N197CV) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 703 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10026655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_N197CV_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (N9201A) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 720 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10025727&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_N9201A_Redacted-Rel.pdf - 2019 Mooney caravan main brief (item 3, PDF, 68 pages, 9 photos, 46.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9874350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2019%20Mooney%20Caravan%20Main%20Brief_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Ffi formation guide (item 4, PDF, 24 pages, 797 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9874536&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FFI%20FORMATION%20GUIDE%20V3.1%20JUN%201%202018-Rel.pdf - Mooney ffi supplement (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 6 photos, 783 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9874359&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mooney%20FFI%20Supplement%20V12%20Dec%2028%202018-Rel.pdf - Mooney 2019 mass arrival loa (item 6, PDF, 5 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9874170&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mooney%202019%20Mass%20Arrival%20LOA%20with%20signatures_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident report photographs (item 7, PDF, 3 pages, 276 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10030495&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20Photographs-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.