On the Record: Evolution Revo

Wednesday, October 19, 2016 at 06:10 PM ET

Verified

The National Transportation Safety Board is sifting through wreckage of two World War II-era aircraft that collided midair during the Wings Over Dallas airshow on Saturday.

Key Takeaways:

The pilot, with extensive conventional airplane experience but minimal weight-shift-control (WSC) aircraft training, disregarded explicit warnings and opted to fly a high-performance WSC aircraft he was unqualified for.
The accident was caused by the pilot's lack of familiarity with the high-performance WSC aircraft's sensitive controls and its opposite inputs compared to conventional planes, leading to over-controlling and a rapid loss of control shortly after takeoff.
Investigations found no mechanical failures or pilot incapacitation, attributing the sole cause to the pilot's improper decision-making and control inputs.
A secondary safety concern was noted regarding the aircraft's rocket-powered parachute, as warning placards were obscured post-crash, posing a hazard to first responders.