Boeing B17 and Bell P63 mid-air collision near Dallas, Texas, November 12, 2022
On November 12, 2022 at about 7:22 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Boeing B17 (N7227C) and Bell P63 (N6763), were involved in a mid-air collision near Dallas, Texas (Dallas Executive airport). 6 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the air boss’s and air show event organizer’s lack of an adequate, prebriefed aircraft separation plan for the air show performance, relying instead on the air boss’s real-time deconfliction directives and the see-and-avoid strategy for collision avoidance, which allowed for the loss of separation between the Boeing B-17G and the Bell P-63F airplanes. Also causal was the diminished ability of the accident pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft due to flight path geometry, out-the-window view obscuration by aircraft structures, attention demands associated with the air show performance, and the inherent limitations of human performance that can make it difficult to see another aircraft. Contributing to the accident were the lack of FAA guidance for air bosses and air show event organizers on developing plans and performing risk assessments that ensure the separation of aircraft that are not part of an approved maneuvers package and the lack of FAA requirements and guidance for recurrent evaluations of air bosses and direct surveillance of their performance.
the air boss’s and air show event organizer’s lack of an adequate, prebriefed aircraft separation plan for the air show performance, relying instead on the air boss’s real-time deconfliction directives and the see-and-avoid strategy for collision avoidance, which allowed for the loss of separation between the Boeing B-17G and the Bell P-63F airplanes. Also causal was the diminished ability of the accident pilots to see and avoid the other aircraft due to flight path geometry, out-the-window view obscuration by aircraft structures, attention demands associated with the air show performance, and the inherent limitations of human performance that can make it difficult to see another aircraft. Contributing to the accident were the lack of FAA guidance for air bosses and air show event organizers on developing plans and performing risk assessments that ensure the separation of aircraft that are not part of an approved maneuvers package and the lack of FAA requirements and guidance for recurrent evaluations of air bosses and direct surveillance of their performance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 12, 2022 · about 7:22 pm local time
- Place
- Dallas, Texas · Dallas Executive · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 6 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Boeing B17 G, built 1944 · all B17s on the register
- Registration
- N7227C · no longer on the register · serial 44-83872
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Bell P63 F, built 1946
- Registration
- N6763 · no longer on the register · serial 43-11719
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Air show or air race flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Boeing B17 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 12, 2022, about 1322 central standard time, a Boeing B-17G airplane, N7227C, and a Bell P-63F airplane, N6763, collided in flight during a performance at the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) Wings Over Dallas air show at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) in Dallas, Texas. The pilot, copilot, flight engineer, and two scanners on board the Boeing B 17G and the pilot of the Bell P-63F were fatally injured, and both airplanes were destroyed. No injuries to persons on the ground were reported. Both accident airplanes (and six other historic, former military airplanes that were airborne as part of the same performance) were operated by the CAF under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 and a certificate of waiver for the air show. The Boeing B 17G and the Bell P-63F departed from KRBD about 1310 and 1315, respectively, for the local flights.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Bell P63 final · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 12, 2022, about 1322 central standard time, a Boeing B-17G airplane, N7227C, and a Bell P-63F airplane, N6763, collided in flight during a performance at the Commemorative Air Force’s (CAF) Wings Over Dallas air show at Dallas Executive Airport (KRBD) in Dallas, Texas. The pilot, copilot, flight engineer, and two scanners on board the Boeing B 17G and the pilot of the Bell P-63F were fatally injured, and both airplanes were destroyed. No injuries to persons on the ground were reported. Both accident airplanes (and six other historic, former military airplanes that were airborne as part of the same performance) were operated by the CAF under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 and a certificate of waiver for the air show. The Boeing B 17G and the Bell P-63F departed from KRBD about 1310 and 1315, respectively, for the local flights.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Boeing B17 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › Other institution/organization
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Pressures/demands › Other pressure/demand › Effect on personnel
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Safety programs › Adequacy of safety program › FAA/Regulator
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Perception › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › (general) › Pilot
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of operation › FAA/Regulator
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 28,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 1.7 in the last 30 days; 24,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 21, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 25,300 hours in all; 90 in this make and model; 0.3 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 15, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,239 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, November 1, 2022; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 65,000 lb
- Seats: 10
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine 1: Wright R-1820-97 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 5: Wright (Studebaker) R-1820-97 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 6: Wright R-1820-97 (piston); 0 hours total
- Engine 7: Wright R-1820-97 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
- Operator: Commemorative Air Force
The flight
- Departed from: KRBD Dallas TX at 7:09 pm
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 350° at 14 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 25°F (-4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KRBD
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRBD 121853Z 35014G18KT 10SM CLR 09/M04 A3030 RMK AO2 SLP263 T00891044=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 5 |
The factual record for the Bell P63 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Organizational issues › Management › Policy/procedure › Adequacy of policy/proc › Other institution/organization
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Perception › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Task environment › Pressures/demands › Other pressure/demand › Effect on personnel
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Safety programs › Adequacy of safety program › FAA/Regulator
- Personnel issues › Physical › Sensory ability/limitation › (general) › Pilot
- Organizational issues › Support/oversight/monitoring › Oversight › Oversight of operation › FAA/Regulator
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer, remote
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 34,500 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 7.8 in the last 30 days; 20,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 19, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,232 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 23, 2023; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 10,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Allison V-1710-135 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Commemorative Air Force
The flight
- Departed from: KRBD Dallas TX at 7:14 pm
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
53 documents, released by the NTSB on March 8, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.