Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Watertown, Wisconsin 53094
Sunday, February 5, 2006 16:54 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Prior to departure, both flight crews decided that they would join-up while in flight to take video and still pictures of each airplane. Both aircraft were Shorts Brothers SD-360-300 turboprop airplanes. While flying in formation, N3735W announced over the radio that they would turn right, toward N372AC, and descend. During the turn, N3735W's left wing impacted the left wing and engine of N372AC. After the collision, N372AC rolled to the left and pitched down significantly before the flight crew regained control of the airplane. After the collision, N372AC was losing hydraulic fluid and eventually had a complete hydraulic system failure. The airplane made an emergency landing at a nearby airport with its flaps retracted and its landing gear partially extended. The airplane overran the end of the runway, coming to rest about 100 feet from the departure threshold. White paint transfer markings and scrapes were observed on the left wing deice boot, the outboard side of the left engine cowling was crushed inboard, the left wing-strut leading edge was torn open and bent, and the lower fuselage skin, immediately forward of the landing gear wheel wells and stub wing, was torn from left to right, consistent with a propeller strike. N3735W impacted terrain and the airplane was destroyed during a subsequent ground fire. The flight crew and passenger were killed. The outboard three-quarters of the left wing was separated from the main wreckage and was not fire damaged. The upper wing surface had linear scrapes diagonally across the wing skin. The left aileron from N3735W was found on the runway where N372AC had landed.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flight crew failed to maintain clearance from another aircraft as they turned to break formation flight while maneuvering. Contributing to the accident was the decision of both flight crews to fly in formation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/5/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1654
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Watertown
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53094
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 431049N
Event Location Longitude 0884959W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1657 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID RYV
Elevation of weather observation facility 833
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Dusk
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -2
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 310
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.84
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 3
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 4
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23122
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Feb 5 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2008 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N3735W N372AC
NTSB Number CHI06FA077A CHI06FA077B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None None
Flight plan Was Activated? No No
Damage Destroyed Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground --
Aircraft Explosion Ground --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Short Brothers Short Brothers
Aircraft Model SD-360-300 SD-360-300
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number SH-3735 SH-3720
Certified Max Gross Weight 27100 27100
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 6 6
Number of Engines 2 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP AAIP
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2006 12:00AM Jan 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours 10077 21996
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name Air Cargo Carriers, Inc. Air Cargo Carriers, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4951 South Howell Avenue 4951 South Howell Avenue
Aircraft Owner City Milwaukee Milwaukee
Aircraft Owner State WI WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53207 53207
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name -- --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City -- --
Operator State -- --
Operator Country -- --
Operator Zip code -- --
Operator Code -- --
Owner has at least one certificate None None
Other Operator of large aircraft? -- --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation -- --
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not -- --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight -- --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail -- --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Other Work Use Other Work Use
Second Pilot on Board Yes Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code MKE MKE
Departure City Milwaukee Milwaukee
Departure State WI WI
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1555 1615
Departure Time Zone CST CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code -- --
Destination City -- --
Destination State -- --
Destination Country -- --
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 14 2008 1:52PM Feb 14 2008 1:52PM
User who most recently changed record DINC DINC
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA NA
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --