On the Record: Beech A36

Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 09:57 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 accident resulted from the pilot's loss of control due to spatial disorientation while attempting an instrument approach in a recently acquired, more complex aircraft in actual instrument meteorological conditions.
Air traffic controllers failed to promptly recognize the pilot's disorientation and issued incorrect or confusing instructions, including "no-gyro" vectors, which likely aggravated his condition.
Deficient Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) training for air traffic controllers on emergency recognition and response, particularly for disorientation scenarios, contributed significantly to the accident.