ERA24LA332

Factual narrative

The two airplanes were part of a performance team that was participating in an air show. During the formation flight, the Bucker Jungmann was the No. 4 airplane in the formation and the Great Lakes was in the No. 5 position and trailing the Bucker Jungmann. A witness video of the formation flight revealed that during the formation flight, the Great Lakes overtook and was above the Bucker Jungmann. Both airplanes then collided, with the top of the Bucker Jungmann impacting the bottom of the Great Lakes. The impact resulted in the Bucker Jungmann’s propeller being damaged and the airplane was no longer capable of maintaining altitude. The pilot of the Bucker Jungmann performed a forced landing in a wooded area, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The midair collision resulted in minor damage to the Great Lakes and the pilot was able to land without incident. Both pilots reported there were no mechanical anomalies or failures that would have precluded normal operation of their airplanes prior to the midair collision. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring other aircraft-Pilot of other aircraft
• — Aircraft-Aircraft propeller/rotor-Propeller system-Propeller assembly-Damaged/degraded
• — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring other aircraft-Pilot