2 zlin aircraft touch while in formation on night flight.

Attributes
ACN	636410
Time
Date	200411
Day	Tue
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : yzr.airport
State Reference	ON
Altitude	msl single value : 3000
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : cle.tracon
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : commercial pilot : cfi pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 100 flight time total : 5000 flight time type : 50
ASRS Report	636410
Person 2
Affiliation	other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 25 flight time total : 1600 flight time type : 1096
ASRS Report	636733
Events
Anomaly	conflict : airborne critical non adherence : required legal separation non adherence : far non adherence : clearance other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa other flight crewb
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Factors
Maintenance	performance deficiency : non compliance with legal requirements performance deficiency : inspection
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

While flying lead on a VFR night flight of 2, lead plane was touched by trail plane. WX was very clear and I believe trail pilot lost my aircraft lights in the ground clutter. Both aircraft exhibited no ill flight characteristics and were flown to an uneventful, normal landing. It is likely that a better preflight brief between the pilots would have avoided any problems.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: 2 ZLIN ACFT TOUCH WHILE IN FORMATION ON NIGHT FLT.

Narrative: WHILE FLYING LEAD ON A VFR NIGHT FLT OF 2, LEAD PLANE WAS TOUCHED BY TRAIL PLANE. WX WAS VERY CLR AND I BELIEVE TRAIL PLT LOST MY ACFT LIGHTS IN THE GND CLUTTER. BOTH ACFT EXHIBITED NO ILL FLT CHARACTERISTICS AND WERE FLOWN TO AN UNEVENTFUL, NORMAL LNDG. IT IS LIKELY THAT A BETTER PREFLT BRIEF BTWN THE PLTS WOULD HAVE AVOIDED ANY PROBS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.