RV-8 v CJ6A Collision Leads To Tragedy

ANN is monitoring the details of a tragic Alabama Mid-Air involving an RV-8 homebuilt (illustrated below) and what appaears to be a Chinese-made CJ-6A. The two aircraft were reported to have been involved in a planned formation flight when they temporarily lost sight of each other and subsequently collided near Pryor Field, AL. The accident occurred Saturday at approximately 1300, local time.

The RV-8 was being flown by Steven G. Raddatz of Tuscumbia (41), The RV-8 was damaged severely in the collision, came apart and impacted on the grounds of Calhoun Community College. The CJ-6A (illustrated below) was flown by B.J. Kennamore, a member of the Red Thunder airshow demonstration team. He is listed as Red Thunder's Maintenance Officer and one of the lead pilots. His aircraft was damaged as well, but thankfully managed a controlled landing with no resulting injury to Kennamore.

Both aircraft had flown out of Muscle Shoals, AL for the purpose of attending a cook-out and collided while returning home. Trying to distill cogent details out of general media reports is a mite difficult at the moment but it appears that both aircraft were involved in a wing-to-wing collision, and that the RV-8 ultimately suffered a wing failure while Kennamore's airplane suffered wing damage of a less severe nature that allowed for a landing back at Pryor Field.

ANN will have more detail when it becomes available.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov, www.redthunder.us