PA-28 pilot reported losing visual contact of lead aircraft during airborne join-up; resulting in lo...

Attributes
ACN	1480444
Time
Date	201709
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	ZZZ.Airport
State Reference	US
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	PA-28 Cherokee/Archer/Dakota/Pillan/Warrior
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	None
Flight Plan	None
Aircraft 2
Make Model Name	Bonanza 35
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Function	Pilot Flying Single Pilot
Qualification	Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP) Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Instrument
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 200 Flight Crew Total 2063 Flight Crew Type 400
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC Deviation - Procedural Other / Unknown
Miss Distance	Horizontal 0 Vertical 20

Narrative:

After briefing the flight on the ground; a friend and I decided to formation fly to a nearby airport for cheap fuel. We discussed direction; speed; and separation. During formation flight we agreed I would approach and fly at the 4 o'clock position of the lead ship and we would then fly a 120 heading. Approaching the lead ship from the rear right quadrant; we communicated on 122.75. I was 10 knots faster than he. I decreased power and added pitch to slow; which caused my left wing to block my view of his airplane as I climbed. On speed now; but view still blocked; I chose to maintain my current; higher altitude until I got him back in sight. Seconds later; I saw his ship nearly directly under me. He got me in sight at the same time. I put the airplane into a climbing right turn; while he descended away.from this; I have learned that flying in formation solo can be difficult with all of the blind spots in an airplane. Communication is also crucial. I should have voiced my concern right when I lost sight of his airplane. He should have done the same.we briefed flying at 110 knots; and when he stated he was doing 100 knots; I should have broken off and rejoined at proper speed rather than attempt to adjust my speed while joining.all in all; formation flight is overrated in my opinion. There is a lot of hazard associated for such little benefit.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: PA-28 pilot reported losing visual contact of lead aircraft during airborne join-up; resulting in loss of separation.

Narrative: After briefing the flight on the ground; a friend and I decided to formation fly to a nearby airport for cheap fuel. We discussed direction; speed; and separation. During formation flight we agreed I would approach and fly at the 4 o'clock position of the lead ship and we would then fly a 120 heading. Approaching the lead ship from the rear right quadrant; we communicated on 122.75. I was 10 knots faster than he. I decreased power and added pitch to slow; which caused my left wing to block my view of his airplane as I climbed. On speed now; but view still blocked; I chose to maintain my current; higher altitude until I got him back in sight. Seconds later; I saw his ship nearly directly under me. He got me in sight at the same time. I put the airplane into a climbing right turn; while he descended away.From this; I have learned that flying in formation solo can be difficult with all of the blind spots in an airplane. Communication is also crucial. I should have voiced my concern right when I lost sight of his airplane. He should have done the same.We briefed flying at 110 knots; and when he stated he was doing 100 knots; I should have broken off and rejoined at proper speed rather than attempt to adjust my speed while joining.All in all; formation flight is overrated in my opinion. There is a lot of hazard associated for such little benefit.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site 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.