Event MIA85LA117

Factual narrative

A GROUP OF T-6 TYPE ACFT WERE TAKING OFF IN SECTIONS OF TWO ACFT EACH. EACH SECTION OF TWO WERE MAKING A FORMATION TAKEOFF WITH A 5 TO 6 SECOND INTERVAL BETWEEN SECTIONS. N58740 WAS IN THE LEFT POSITION OF THE 2ND SECTION; N9801C WAS IN THE LEFT POSITION OF THE 3RD SECTION. DURING TAKEOFF, AN ACFT IN THE 1ST SECTION HAD AN ENG PROBLEM & THE PLT ABORTED HIS TAKEOFF. HE MADE A RADIO CALL TO NOTIFY THE OTHER PLTS & THE PLTS OF THE 2ND SECTION ABORTED THEIR TAKEOFF. HOWEVER, THE PLT OF N9801C, WHO WAS LEADING THE 3RD SECTION DID NOT HEAR THE RADIO CALL. HIS ACFT HAD POOR FORWARD VISIBILITY WHILE THE TAIL WHEEL WAS ON THE GROUND; THEREFORE, HE WAS NOT AWARE THAT THE ACFT AHEAD WERE ABORTING UNTIL HE RAISED THE TAIL DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. BY THEN, IT WAS TOO LATE TO AVOID A COLLISION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING OF N9801C STRUCK THE RUDDER & ELEVATORS OF N58740 & BOTH ACFT WERE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12