Looks like a collision to me...
https://interactive.wfaa.com/pdfs/Report_CEN23MA034_106276_11_30_2022-2_31_45-PM.pdf
Looks like a collision to me...
Two question come to this former tactical naval aviator.
(1) how old was the pilot of the fighter?
(2) how much experience did he have in tactical aircraft?
From viewing the film, it appears as if he lost track of his high closure and compounded that error by going belly-up, thus losing sight. The correct thing to have done is to have yo-yo’d hard leveled wings and gone vertical, and even canopy rolling to keep the slower bomber in sight. NEVER lose sight!
It is VERY disturbing footage to view.
Since this leaves approximately 4 airworthy B-17’s - let’s take care of the remainder.
It’s hard to believe that guys with this much experience could screw up so badly.
I’m no expert in air show maneuvers but the ones I’ve seen, the fighters fly in formation keeping each other in view at all times, and the bombers fly separately.
New video suggests that the P-63 may have collided with something small — possibly a drone — resulting in loss of control and a stall.
The fighter pilot is at fault as well as the air boss.
Two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time.
The planes, fighters vs bombers, were supposed to be in two different size circles at two different altitudes.
Even though the fighter pilot flew out of his circle, had he been at the proper altitude, the accident still would not have happened.
Fighter pilot leaving his circle AND flying at the same height as the bomber.
Air boss supposedly told the fighter to advance ahead of the bomber. The fighter pilot increased his speed to comply (he should have refused the instruction) which caused him to go wide. Being at the wrong altitude caused the crash. Accelerating caused him to go wide and bank sharply, making it impossible for him to see the bomber.
“it appears the bomber was either ahead of its planned path or the P-63 was slow and behind”
Aka “We don’t know”. This observation leaves out the vertical separation entirely.
You would think that NTSB investigators would be required to work 40 hr weeks ... think less than a couple years would be possible for competent investigators working full time.