An ATSB preliminary report details the sequence of events leading up to the midair collision of two Van's light aircraft returning to land at Wedderburn airfield, south-west of Sydney, as part of a formation flight.
Just after noon on 30 November 2025, the group of four Van's amateur-built, single-engine light aircraft, using the call sign 'Acro Formation' and each with a solo pilot on board, was returning to land at Wedderburn, the report details.
"Approaching Wedderburn, the lead pilot directed the formation members to move from a box to an echelon formation, where each aircraft was positioned slightly behind and to the right of the aircraft ahead of them," Mr Mitchell explained.
"This was to facilitate the aircraft landing in succession after entering the Wedderburn circuit via an 'initial and pitch' manoeuvre."
In an initial and pitch manoeuvre, the formation flies an upwind leg of the circuit, aligned with the landing runway, commencing from a predetermined (initial) position. Then, about halfway along the runway, the lead aircraft will turn (or pitch) onto the crosswind leg of the circuit, with each aircraft following in succession, with a set time delay (in this case 3 seconds) between them.
"The collision occurred between #2 and #3 aircraft in the formation, shortly after the #3 aircraft commenced its turn," Mr Mitchell said.
A nearby eyewitness recalled that each aircraft turned into the circuit after similar time delays, and that that #3 continued the turn, tighter than the previous aircraft, which put it onto a converging heading with #2.
During the collision, the rear fuselage of #3 separated from the aircraft, which descended rapidly and impacted terrain in a near vertical trajectory, fatally injuring the pilot.
Aircraft #2 was damaged, but remained flyable, and its pilot, who was uninjured, was able to land at Wedderburn and taxi off the runway.
Upon being notified of the accident the ATSB deployed a team of investigators to the site, where they examined the wreckage, as well as the damage to the surviving aircraft.
Due to the wreckage disruption a full flight control continuity check of aircraft #3 was not possible, but examination of the available controls did not identify any pre-collision defects. Examination of the propeller indicated that the engine was providing power at the time of impact.
Both pilots had frequently flown with onboard video cameras in their aircraft, but did not do so during the accident flight, and nor did the pilots in the other aircraft in the formation. In addition, no nearby CCTV cameras captured the accident sequence.
However, the ATSB was able to obtain flight tracking for each aircraft from third party flight tracking providers, electronic flight bag applications and onboard avionics, which will prove instrumental to the investigation as it progresses.
"As well as the recorded flight tracking data, the ongoing investigation will also further consider formation flying procedures and practices, pilot records and training, and aircraft maintenance records," Mr Mitchell said.
Analysis of that evidence, and the findings that analysis leads to, will be detailed in the ATSB's final report, to be released at the conclusion of the investigation.
"However, if at any point in the investigation the ASTB identifies any critical safety issues, we will notify relevant parties immediately so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken," Mr Mitchell concluded.Read the preliminary report: Midair collision involving Van's RV-7 aircraft, VH-EWS and VH‑NMG, near Wedderburn aeroplane landing area, New South Wales, on 30 November 2025
