Cotton picking Stearmen...
 

Think the Feds may well wish to speak to these guys...

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/346258

https://www.facebook.com/reel/288995007401386

I wonder if the accident aircraft was watching the leader and not what was in front?

That was lead's fault.

Hang on that’s poorly worded.

The cause of the collision with the cotton picker was the failure of the leading pilot to ensure adequate (legal) separation from the ground and obstacles. The reason for this failure is unknown based on the information presented.

I will say though, at low level, the wingman should maintain lead on or below the horizon.

Flying formation you keep your eyes on the leader, the Thunderbirds lost all four T-38 when in a formation loop during a practice session, our Oz air force also lost four Vampire two seat trainer aircraft while practicing for an air display, the four aircraft struck the ground almost simultaneously in the final stages of completing a low level formation barrel roll, all six personnel died. Accident report of the latter,

www.adf-serials.com.au/dfs/The-Red-Sales.pdf

Certainly the case for close formation.

Perhaps the lead pilot knew exactly what he was doing and this is what happens when the lead wants to teach the wingman a lesson? Or he also knows the cotton picker operator and tried for 2 birds with one Stearman?

Can you imagine being in the cotton picker, which likely costs far more than those planes combined, just cruising down the row, when out of nowhere it's like a bomb explodes behind and two fast shadows go by?

Or almost as bad, you come out after the dew has dried in the mid-morning, all ready for another cotton-pickin day, do the walk-around and find a wheel and some metal just lying there and then going around a bit more and see the huge dent where the wheel hit. How long before the realization hits that the wheel arriving from the other direction would have put that wheel through the windshield and splattered you all over the remains of the cab?

There was somebody on the picker, who filmed the accident - see the first link in the accident wiki.

In reality the cause of the accident was two idiots hooning around at ultra low-level <em>in formation.
Utter insanity, and clearly planned in advance in cahoots with the two pickers who were both ready with their cameras, even if they couldn't hold them the right way up.
Totally irresponsible own goal.
Darwin award candidates, both of them.

I'm curious why it resulted in a forced landing. Did he get the prop too? Might have been better to land at home even with only one main landing gear left.

Thanks - somehow missed it the first time.

Ok, show of hands - who thinks the person recording on the picker had no idea that two aircraft were about to appear just where his camera was pointing?

If you look at the forward aspect of a Stearman the opportunity to lose an undercattiage lag and not strike the prop too is pretty small - so I'd guess the prop took a hit too and forced the landing. Unless of course the inpact simply threw the idiot into the ground.

I think that the pilot is responsible for the aircraft, not some guy on the ground with a camera.

Regardless of legality of the flight...

1. The formation leader is responsible for his wingman at all times when in close formation. That includes obstacle and ground clearance.

2. The wingman is responsible for maintaining station as directed by lead.

At a guess, if I am permitted the liberty on this forum, I would say that the lead was dusting and the accident aircraft might have been designated as a photo chase aircraft for some purpose...

Dusting? Hope your tongue is nestling in your cheek...

You are correct (smoking?)...definitely not an area of my expertise.

Airshow smoke system ("your honour, it is my client's contention that his friend's aeroplane had developed engine trouble, so he was formating with said aircraft in order to ascertain the nature of the problem when he collided with the agricultural machinery...")

Think Stearmen had largely been retired from ag work by 1980, certainly in the USA.

Why are they spraying a crop that is being harvested?

Flying that low over a vehicle or a person is already illegal :( min 500 ft as per FAA rules if my memory is correct , same in most countries)