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2022 Dallas air show mid-air collision

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2022 Dallas airshow mid-air collision
Seconds after the mid-air collision, both planes broke into multiple pieces, here visible falling
Accident
DateNovember 12, 2022 13:22 CST
SummaryMid-air collision at Wings over Dallas airshow, under investigation
SiteDallas Executive Airport (RBD), Dallas, Texas, United States
Total fatalities6 (all)
First aircraft

N7227C, the B-17G involved in the accident, in October 2019
TypeBoeing B-17G-95-DL/PB-1W Flying Fortress
NameTexas Raiders
OperatorAmerican Airpower Heritage Flying Museum
RegistrationN7227C
44-83872 (s/n)
77235 (BuNo)
Flight originDallas Executive Airport, Dallas, Texas
Occupants5
Crew5
Fatalities5
Survivors0
Second aircraft

N6763, the Bell P-63F involved in the accident, in October 2019
TypeBell P-63F-1-BE Kingcobra
OperatorAmerican Airpower Heritage Flying Museum
RegistrationN6763
43-11719 (s/n)
Flight originDallas Executive Airport, Dallas, Texas
Occupants1
Crew1
Fatalities1
Survivors0

On November 12, 2022, two World War II–era aircraft, a B-17 Flying Fortress and a Bell P-63 Kingcobra, collided mid-air and crashed during the Wings Over Dallas airshow at Dallas Executive Airport in Dallas, Texas, United States.[1] The collision occurred around 1:22 p.m. local time (CST, UTC−6). The airshow, which coincided with the Veterans Day celebrations, was organized by the Commemorative Air Force.

Both aircraft suffered total hull loss. Officials reported that the B-17 had a crew of five while the P-63 had a single occupant; all six were confirmed to have died by the Dallas County Medical Examiner.[2][3]

Aircraft

The B-17 involved was Texas Raiders, a Douglas-Long Beach built B-17G-95-DL registered N7227C, which first entered service in 1945 and was operated by American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum. It was one of the few surviving B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft that remained airworthy.[4][5] The second aircraft involved was a P-63F-1-BE Kingcobra registered N6763, which was also operated by American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum. This plane was one of only two P-63F variants ever built and was one of only five P-63s that remained airworthy.[citation needed] It did not have a name and was painted in its original "X" test markings.[6][7]

Crash

The crash occurred at the Dallas Executive Airport, during an airshow that had drawn more than 4,000 spectators. Both aircraft were being flown by highly trained volunteers, who are often retired professional pilots.[8] According to witness accounts and videos posted to social media, the P-63F was performing a high-speed banked turn onto the runway approach while shedding altitude. It collided with the B-17 on the rear port quarter from above, severing the B-17's fuselage from a point just aft of its wings. Both aircraft broke apart and hit the ground seconds afterward, exploding and erupting into flames.[9]

Victims

Six people, all crewmembers of the two aircraft involved, were killed in the accident. No injuries or fatalities were reported on the ground.[10] In the hours following the accident, the Allied Pilots Association, a union representing American Airlines pilots, confirmed on Twitter that two of its former members, Terry Barker and Len Root, were part of the B-17 crew and died in the crash.[11]

Investigation

The day of the event, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) launched an immediate investigation into the accident.[5]

Reactions

Several Texas officials reacted to the crash on Twitter. Dallas County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins said on Twitter, "My heart goes out to all the individuals & families affected by the horrible tragedy at the Wings Over Dallas air show today. Please join me in praying for all."[12] Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson called the accident "a terrible tragedy in our city".[13]

The president of the Commemorative Air Force, which organized the show, claimed that this kind of mid-air collision during an airshow was "extremely rare," while a member of the Army Air Forces Historical Association described the accident as "heartbreaking both on a human level and a historical level."[14]

References

  1. ^ "2 aircraft collide and crash during WWII airshow in Dallas". ABC News. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  2. ^ Jenkins, Clay [@JudgeClayJ] (November 13, 2022). "According to our Dallas County Medical Examiner, there are a total of 6 fatalities from yesterday's Wings over Dallas air show incident. Authorities will continue working today on the investigation & identification of the deceased. Please pray for their families and all involved" (Tweet). Retrieved November 13, 2022 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Otero, LM; Bleed, Jill (November 13, 2022). "6 killed after vintage aircraft collide at Dallas air show". Boston.com. AP. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  4. ^ "Two aircraft collide, crash during Dallas air show". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Riess, Rebekah; Tucker, Emma (November 12, 2022). "Vintage military aircraft collide mid-air at Dallas air show". CNN.com. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  6. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Bell P-63F Kingcobra N6763, 12 Nov 2022". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "Warplane Survivors USA: Texas (Book)". Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  8. ^ Bacon, John (November 13, 2022). "'Pulverized everybody and everything': 6 die in midair collision of WWII planes at Dallas air show". USA TODAY. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "Planes collide during air show at Dallas Executive Airport". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  10. ^ Burns, Ahraya; Reyes • •, Jacob. "6 Dead After 2 Planes Crash Mid-Flight During Airshow in Dallas". NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
  11. ^ "2 planes collide midair at Dallas air show; up to 6 people believed to have been on board". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  12. ^ "Judge Clay Jenkins on the Twitter response on this mid-air collision". Twitter. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  13. ^ "Eric Johnson response to this mid-air collision". Twitter. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  14. ^ "6 Dead After Planes Collide in Midair at Dallas Air Show, Official Says". The New York Times. November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
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