N32WR

HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 29, 2018, about 1435 eastern daylight time, an Extra EA300 LC airplane, N32WR, and a Cessna 172 airplane, N6021A, collided inflight over runway 25 at the North Fox Island Airport (6Y3), North Fox Island, Michigan. The the Extra EA300 LC was landing and the Cessna 172 was departing. The airline transport pilot and passenger on the Extra EA300 LC were uninjured and the airline transport pilot and two passengers on the Cessna 172 received minor injuries. The Extra EA300 LC sustained substantial right-wing damage and the Cessna 172 sustained substantial empennage, left wing, and fuselage damage during the collision and subsequent impact with terrain. The Extra EA300 LC was registered to Captain Property and Investment LLC and was operated by its pilot. The Cessna 172 was registered to and operated by its pilot. Both flights were being conducted as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flights. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the area about the time of the accident, and the flights were not operated on flight plans. The Extra EA300 LC departed from the Appleton International Airport, near Appleton, Wisconsin, and was destined for 6Y3. The Cessna 172 was originating from 6Y3 at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot of N32WR, the flight was uneventful until the landing phase. He initiated the descent approximately 10 miles from 6Y3 and started self-announcing his intentions "in accordance with Advisory Circular 90-66B." At no time were there any responses or transmissions heard from other aircraft at 6Y3. Upon reaching the pattern altitude of 1,700 ft, the pilot continued the left-hand pattern to final.

At approximately 30-40 feet above the surface, the pilot started to round out while slowing in order to land just beyond the threshold to maximize the runway surface for the rollout. He advised that there were no aircraft visible during the final and approach to landing until an estimated 20-30 feet above the landing surface just prior to the threshold which was marked by 3 yellow cones. Out of the pilot's right side, just in front of the right-hand wing, he saw a bright object which turned out to be a departing airplane.

The pilot stated that N32WR aircraft impacted the other airplane. He said that the airplane yawed strongly to the right. The pilot was able to regain control and ended up coming to a stop about 800 ft beyond the resting place of the other airplane, near the imaginary runway centerline. The pilot determined his passenger was ok and he egressed to help the other airplane's occupants.

The pilot then ran toward the other airplane, a Cessna 172. One Cessna occupant was already out of the airplane and another left the airplane through the right-hand door. The third occupant was still inside, but before the Extra pilot could reach the airplane, the third occupant had departed through the right-hand door as well. There was an observed fuel leak from the left-hand wing of the Cessna as fuel was exiting out of the topside wing vent.

According to the passenger in N32WP, the flight was approaching North Fox Island and the pilot announced on the radio we were approaching with the intention of landing on the Island. He checked the weather on Beaver Island, the weather report was good and again on the radio said we were approaching, and we were minutes out. They heard no response. The passenger reiterated that the pilot announced on the radio at least 4 times saying we were heading to North Fox Island with the intention of landing and we never received a response. The pilot set up for final approach and the conditions of the field looked good. They saw a different aircraft at the opposite end of the airstrip, and the pilot decided to land. The passenger indicated that the other aircraft that came up under us was not observed. When the airplane came to a final stop the passenger's first response to ask the pilot "what just happened." The pilot responded that "we just hit another airplane."

According to the pilot of N6021A, the airplane was flown into 6Y3 for overnight on a camping trip. The pilot of N6021A started engines on the south side of the airfield about 1422. The airplane was positioned in an open clearing on the south end of the airfield and the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF), 122.9 megahertz, was monitored. Preflight checks were conducted, and the airplane was taxied down the center of the runway. The pilot reported that he heard a radio call from Washington Island Airport. A radio call from the 172 announced the airplane's departure in the blind. The planned takeoff was a soft field, minimum run departure with anticipated obstructions, crosswinds, and wind shear at tree top level. No turning circle was present at the departure end of the runway and the pilot advised that a soft/short, close to gross weight takeoff was made for a rolling departure with as much runway ahead as possible. No other airplanes were heard or seen. The takeoff was as planned, and the airplane lifted off the ground into ground effect about 5 to 7 ft above ground level. The airplane was accelerated to best angle of climb speed plus 10 knots. About 1431, a loud explosion occurred, and the airplane swerved 100° to the right. Full counter control deployment brought the airplane to remain in ground effect. The airplane was right of centerline and a second explosion and "violent" stop occurred. During the stopping contact, the airplane was 50° off runway heading and the left main landing gear dug into the soft soil. The left wing remained on the heading and the rest of the airplane rotated to a stop about 30° off runway heading, which forced the left wing into the cabin where it trapped the pilot in the right seat. The passenger in the left seat assisted the right seated pilot to get out of the airplane. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot of N3ZWR held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airline transport pilot certificate with a multi engine land rating and he held commercial pilot privileges in single-engine land airplanes. He also held a flight instructor certificate with single-engine and multi engine ratings. The pilot held an FAA first class medical certificate, dated June 11, 2018, with a limitation that the medical was not valid for any class after September 30, 2019. Additionally, the pilot held a Statement of Demonstrated Ability for monocular vision.

The pilot of N6021A held an FAA airline transport pilot certificate with a multi engine land rating and he held commercial pilot privileges in single-engine land airplanes. He also held a flight instructor certificate with single-engine and multi engine ratings. The pilot held an FAA first class medical certificate dated, July 24, 2018, with a limitation to wear corrective lenses. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONN32WR was a single-engine, two-place, low-wing, fixed tailwheel landing gear, monoplane, designed to be fully aerobatic. The airplane was powered by a 315-horsepower engine which drove a three-bladed, constant-speed propeller. The pilot reported that the airplane underwent an annual on December 7, 2017 and that the airplane accumulated 217 hours of total time at the time of the accident. The fuselage was constructed of a tubular steel frame covered with aluminum and fabric fairings; the wing's construction was carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CRP). The ailerons were almost full span and there are no flaps. The airplane had two cockpits, in tandem, covered with a clear, one-piece canopy. The airplane stalls about 55 to 60 kts based on weight.

N6021A, was a single engine, four-place, high-wing, fixed tricycle landing gear, all-metal design airplane. The airplane was powered by a 145-horsepower engine which drove a fixed pitch propeller. The pilot reported that the airplane underwent an annual in January of 2018 and that the airplane accumulated 2,800 hours of total time. The airplane had side-by-side seating in the front and a rear couch (two seats) in the back of the cabin. The airplane had dual flight controls. The airplane had a high wing that constituted the roof of the airplane's cabin. The airplane's checklist for an obstacle clearance takeoff indicated a best angle of climb speed of 60 mph (about 52 kts). METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATIONAt 1435, the recorded weather at the Beaver Island Airport, Beaver Island, Michigan, was: Wind 230° at 8 kts, variable from 210° to 270°; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 25° C; dew point 16° C; altimeter 30.06 inches of mercury. AIRPORT INFORMATIONN32WR was a single-engine, two-place, low-wing, fixed tailwheel landing gear, monoplane, designed to be fully aerobatic. The airplane was powered by a 315-horsepower engine which drove a three-bladed, constant-speed propeller. The pilot reported that the airplane underwent an annual on December 7, 2017 and that the airplane accumulated 217 hours of total time at the time of the accident. The fuselage was constructed of a tubular steel frame covered with aluminum and fabric fairings; the wing's construction was carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CRP). The ailerons were almost full span and there are no flaps. The airplane had two cockpits, in tandem, covered with a clear, one-piece canopy. The airplane stalls about 55 to 60 kts based on weight.

N6021A, was a single engine, four-place, high-wing, fixed tricycle landing gear, all-metal design airplane. The airplane was powered by a 145-horsepower engine which drove a fixed pitch propeller. The pilot reported that the airplane underwent an annual in January of 2018 and that the airplane accumulated 2,800 hours of total time. The airplane had side-by-side seating in the front and a rear couch (two seats) in the back of the cabin. The airplane had dual flight controls. The airplane had a high wing that constituted the roof of the airplane's cabin. The airplane's checklist for an obstacle clearance takeoff indicated a best angle of climb speed of 60 m...