NTSB Factual Report

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On July 25, 1993, about 1815 eastern standard time, a Cessna A150K airplane, N8382M, was destroyed when it collided in-flight with a Mong Sport experimental airplane, N8610E, near Goshen, Indiana. The solo pilots of both airplanes were fatally injured. Both airplanes were owned and registered to the pilot of N8382M, and operated in visual meteorological conditions without flight plan under 14 CFR Part 91.

The two pilots had been among a group of pilots and other guests who had been invited to an annual dinner hosted by Korpf Manufacturing, Inc. Korpf Manufacturing owns and maintains the private grass airstrip that the pilot's landed on, and later performed over. The dinner was held in a building adjacent to the airfield.

Witnesses reported the two airplanes departed the Korpf airstrip located to the rear of Kropf Manufacturing shortly after dinner, about 1800. Both airplanes departed within a minute of each other. Soon after their departure, both airplanes began maneuvering over or near the east-west aligned airstrip.

The Cessna pilot began a series of aerobatic maneuvers over and near the airstrip. Witnesses saw aileron rolls, loops, and cuban eight maneuvers, performed at altitudes estimated between 800 and 1,500 feet. The pilot of the Mong airplane reportedly maneuvered in the vicinity of the traffic pattern, but initially well away from the Cessna. Some witness accounts varied, but an aviation mechanic and a commercial airline pilot gave accounts which corroborated the preponderance of the witness's observations. The Cessna had just finished a maneuver, and was traveling eastbound, over the airstrip, from the west end of the airstrip at approximately 500' AGL. The Mong pilot simultaneously began a low pass (estimated 100' AGL) westbound from the east end of the field. About two-thirds of the way down the field, the Mong pilot pulled the airplane into a steep climb and collided with the Cessna. Both airplanes fell to ground collision and began to burn.

The airline pilot and aviation mechanic witnesses, as well as other witnesses, volunteered that the setting sun probably limited the Mong pilot's visibility.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

N8382M was an aerobatic version of a Cessna 150 that had been modified to a tailwheel configuration. The Mong airplane, N8610E, was a homebuilt, single seat, fabric covered biplane.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

Reported weather at South Bend, Indiana, approximately 22nm west of the accident site, at 1850 eastern standard time, was: Sky, 3,500' thin broken, visibility, 7 miles, wind, 200 degrees at 9 knots, temperature 87, dew point, 77.

The elevation of the sun above the horizon at the time of the accident, at the accident site, was 14.0 degrees. The sun's azimuth was 276 degrees.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The on-site investigation began on July 26 at 0830.

The Cessna airplane wreckage was located approximately 497' west of the east end of the airstrip. The wreckage was principally intact, with all the major airframe components and the engine present. The wreckage exhibited significant fire damage, mostly about the center section of the airframe. The left wing had a large "V" shaped indentation on the underside of the left wing in the vicinity of the lift strut attachment.

The Mong wreckage was located about 1,570' west of the east end of the airstrip, and about 1,073' west of the Cessna wreckage. The fabric covered airplane's wreckage was mostly consumed by fire. All major airframe components and the engine were in the immediate vicinity of the crash site.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

Toxicological tests done on both pilots were negative. Autopsies on both pilots were performed by Dr. Maria Garcia at the Goshen General Hospital, Goshen, Indiana, on July 26. The manner of death for both pilots was listed as accidental.

NTSB Probable Cause

FAILURE OF BOTH PILOTS TO SEE AND AVOID EACH OTHER. A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT WAS THE POSTION OF THE SUN WHICH RESULTED IN SUN GLARE FOR THE PILOT OF THE MONG SPORT.