- Date
- March 5, 1989, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Casa Grande, AZ
- Injuries
- 4 fatal
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 9, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA reports
- 19890305002982A19890305002981A
- Case key
- 26215
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot in command's performance of aerobatic maneuvers, while flying in formation, and his failure to maintain proper clearance.
Performance of an aerobatic maneuver by the pilot of the other aircraft, while flying in formation, and his failure to maintain proper clearance.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
A private pilot flying in his own experimental category acrobatic biplane, N64WD, planned to fly in formation with a commercial pilot flying in his own normal category airplane, N2766C. Both aircraft were radio equipped. While the Cessna was in cruise flight, N64WD overtook the Cessna from its rear, maneuvered inverted, and collided with the Cessna.
A private pilot flying in his own experimental category acrobatic biplane, N64WD, planned to fly in formation with a commercial pilot flying in his own normal category airplane, N2766C. Both aircraft were radio equipped. While the Cessna was in cruise flight, N64WD overtook the Cessna from its rear, maneuvered inverted, and collided with the Cessna.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N2766C
- Reported as
- Cessna 170B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 26310
- Engine
- Continental C-145-2, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- James W. Mcquatters
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Arizona, AZ
- Destination
- Arizona, AZ
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N64WD
- Reported as
- Rodgers Baby Great Lakes (BABY GREAT)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 7104K-385B
- Engine
- Continental O-200-A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Walter A. Doiron
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- Arizona, AZ
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N2766C
- Age
- 42
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 800 total · 182 in this make and model · 4 in the last 90 days
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N64WD
- Age
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 700 total · 350 in this make and model · 625 as pilot in command · 25 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point -0 °F
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N2766C · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.