ERA15WA233

On May 31, 2015, about 1430 universal coordinated time, a Vans RV8, I-LOVI, and a Vans RV7, I-AMEL, were destroyed after colliding midair and then subsequently colliding with the Adriatic Sea, near Corropoli, Italy. The Italian certificated pilot of the RV8 was fatally injured, and the Italian certificated pilot of the RV7 sustained minor injuries. The local flight departed Corropoli, Italy as part of an airshow, at an unknown time..According to investigators, the airplanes were performing formation flight in what was described as a "mirror formation" at the time of the collision. The RV8 appeared to "lose height" before it struck the RV7, broke up in flight, and fell to the sea. The RV7 performed a forced landing to the sea, and the pilot egressed the airplane with minor injuries. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (ANSV) of Italy. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo Via A. Benigni, 53-00156 Telephone: +39 06 82 078 229 Fax: +39 06 8273672 This report is for informational purposes only, and contains only information released by or obtained from the Government of Italy.