NTSB Releases Preliminary Report on Fatal Texas Midair Collision

Investigators are scrutinizing altitude deconfliction procedures at the airshow prior to the accident.

Thursday, December 01, 2022 at 01:25 PM ET

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NTSB investigators spent several days mapping out, photographing and marking the debris field of the midair collision. [Courtesy: National Transportation Safety Board]

Key Takeaways:

The NTSB's preliminary report on the fatal midair collision at the Wings Over Dallas airshow found no altitude deconfliction procedures were briefed or in place for the flight.
The November 12 collision between a B-17G bomber and a P-63F Kingcobra fighter resulted in the deaths of all six people aboard both aircraft.
The accident occurred when the P-63F, part of a fighter formation directed to fly near the 500-feet show line, struck the B-17G, which was leading a bomber formation directed to fly near the 1,000-feet show line.
The NTSB investigation is ongoing, utilizing hundreds of spectator videos and recovered GPS data from the aircraft, with a final report anticipated in 12 to 18 months.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released the preliminary report on the fatal midair collision between a B-17G and P-63F Kingcobra during the Wings Over Dallas airshow on November 12. According to the NTSB report, there were no altitude deconflictions briefed before the flight or while the airplanes were in the air.

Altitude deconflictions procedures are established in the event pilots find themselves at an improper altitude during the flight.