Illinois Valley Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Peru, Illinois 61354
Sunday, June 18, 2006 8:48 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

An amateur-built RV-6A airplane and an amateur-built RV-8 airplane, collided in-flight during an overhead recovery maneuver. The formation flight of four airplanes was arriving prior to an air show. They were scheduled to perform in the air show later that day. The flight leader stated that the flight was established southbound over the approach end of runway 18 when he initiated an overhead recovery for landing. He stated that he pulled up and started a turn to return for landing. He reported that shortly after starting his turn he felt the impact of the other airplane. He was able to maintain control and subsequently landed on runway 36. A ground-based witness reported that the four airplanes flew over his position northbound in a diamond formation at 800 - 1,000 feet above ground level (agl). He noted that the formation appeared "evenly spaced and steady." The formation proceeded to make a descending turn. As the formation was established southbound, about 200 feet agl, the lead airplane executed a climbing left turn away from the other airplanes. Approximately two seconds later the second airplane began a left climbing turn. The witness reported that this airplane "appeared to turn and climb much more aggressively than the lead aircraft." Prior to completion of the turns, the witness stated the second airplane "merged with the lead aircraft from below and from the left." He noted seeing debris separate from the airplanes due to the collision. The second airplane subsequently entered a "near vertical, slow spiral descent in a nose down attitude." Post accident inspection of the RV-6A airplane did not reveal any anomalies associated with a pre impact failure. The pilot of the RV-8 stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the lead airplane during the overhead recovery maneuver prior to landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/18/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 848
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Peru
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61354
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator Yes
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412107N
Event Location Longitude 0890911W
Event Location Airport Illinois Valley Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID VYS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 654
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 845 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID VYS
Elevation of weather observation facility 654
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 9500
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.86
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KVYS 181345Z AUTO 22010KT 10SM OVC095 22/20
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22478
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jun 18 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2007 8:02AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-DuPage FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N86CG N68LT
NTSB Number CHI06LA157A CHI06LA157B
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? -- --
Damage Destroyed Substantial
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Good Turner
Aircraft Model RV-6A RV-8
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 60135 81164
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750 1800
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes Yes
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2 2
Number of Engines 1 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2005 12:00AM Jun 1 2005 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours 1015 530
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated -- Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name Christopher J. Good William A. Turner
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City West Bend Marengo
Aircraft Owner State WI IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode -- 60152
Operator is an individual? Yes Yes
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) Air Race/Show Air Race/Show
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code C77 C77
Departure City Poplar Grove Poplar Grove
Departure State IL IL
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 815 815
Departure Time Zone CDT CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code VYS VYS
Destination City Peru Peru
Destination State IL IL
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 11 2007 4:57PM Oct 11 2007 4:57PM
User who most recently changed record DINC DINC
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18 18
Runway Length 6000 6000
Runway Width 100 100
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --