Narrative:

I flew to a fly-in information with 2 other fly-baby type homebuilts. During takeoffs, we had been departing in rapid succession, leader down center of runway, #2 down left side and #3 (me) on right SID of runway. A similar departure was to be made from east sound airport. Incoming traffic was heavy, leaving only small gaps for departure. After a champ landed, the flight leader taxied onto the active and we followed. Due to our tail-dragger confign, the view forward was limited. The leader waited a few moments, then applied takeoff power. When he lifted his tail, he discovered the champ had missed the center turnoff and was still on the runway. #1 throttled back. #2 also throttled back, but his plane darted to the right into my path. About this time, I raised my tail and discovered the problem. I decided my options were few, and maintained takeoff power (my aircraft had a larger engine). I broke ground and slid to the right to the edge of the runway. #2 recovered control and moved back left. I passed #2 about the time he broke ground, about 50' above and 50' to the side. Contributing factors: 1) lead aircraft commander did not have a lead mentality to consider the effect his actions would have on flight members. 2) inexperience by #2--kept too much rudder on during power reduction. 3) poor judgement by #3 (me) in not recognizing and compensating for #1 and #2.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FORMATION FLT OF 3 ON TKOF DISCOVER LNDG ACFT STILL ON RWY. LEADER POWERS BACK, CREATES NMAC SITUATION.

Narrative: I FLEW TO A FLY-IN INFO WITH 2 OTHER FLY-BABY TYPE HOMEBUILTS. DURING TKOFS, WE HAD BEEN DEPARTING IN RAPID SUCCESSION, LEADER DOWN CENTER OF RWY, #2 DOWN LEFT SIDE AND #3 (ME) ON RIGHT SID OF RWY. A SIMILAR DEP WAS TO BE MADE FROM E SOUND ARPT. INCOMING TFC WAS HVY, LEAVING ONLY SMALL GAPS FOR DEP. AFTER A CHAMP LANDED, THE FLT LEADER TAXIED ONTO THE ACTIVE AND WE FOLLOWED. DUE TO OUR TAIL-DRAGGER CONFIGN, THE VIEW FORWARD WAS LIMITED. THE LEADER WAITED A FEW MOMENTS, THEN APPLIED TKOF PWR. WHEN HE LIFTED HIS TAIL, HE DISCOVERED THE CHAMP HAD MISSED THE CENTER TURNOFF AND WAS STILL ON THE RWY. #1 THROTTLED BACK. #2 ALSO THROTTLED BACK, BUT HIS PLANE DARTED TO THE RIGHT INTO MY PATH. ABOUT THIS TIME, I RAISED MY TAIL AND DISCOVERED THE PROB. I DECIDED MY OPTIONS WERE FEW, AND MAINTAINED TKOF PWR (MY ACFT HAD A LARGER ENG). I BROKE GND AND SLID TO THE RIGHT TO THE EDGE OF THE RWY. #2 RECOVERED CTL AND MOVED BACK LEFT. I PASSED #2 ABOUT THE TIME HE BROKE GND, ABOUT 50' ABOVE AND 50' TO THE SIDE. CONTRIBUTING FACTORS: 1) LEAD ACFT COMMANDER DID NOT HAVE A LEAD MENTALITY TO CONSIDER THE EFFECT HIS ACTIONS WOULD HAVE ON FLT MEMBERS. 2) INEXPERIENCE BY #2--KEPT TOO MUCH RUDDER ON DURING PWR REDUCTION. 3) POOR JUDGEMENT BY #3 (ME) IN NOT RECOGNIZING AND COMPENSATING FOR #1 AND #2.

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.