Mid-Air Collision Between 2 Small Planes Above Colorado

This one is a small miracle. Over populated area, Cirrus with a chute, Merlin was a freighter, (kydex interior liner) and no seats to occupy in the missing section of the plane. No fatals or injuries in a hard core midair is amazing.

Animation of the accident sequence. https://youtu.be/f5tb2dVWJqc Radar indicated 140kt GS on the SR22 in the downwind leg, increasing to 150kt+ in the turn to base leg. No doubt the SR22 overshot the turn to final approach, and clearly ran into the Metroliner that was established on a straight in final approach to the parallel runway.

The old San Antonio Sewer Pipe (Metroliner) held together for what the pilot indicates to ATC he thought was nothing more than an engine failure.

He reported a Cessna in sight which was crossing his path but there's nothing to indicate he ever saw the metroliner which might have been almost straight-on to his line of sight and maybe hard to see. In fact, all indications (radar) are that he approached the ML and was turning with his blind side to that AC and ran right over him as the metroliner on final was around 115 to 125 kt but the SR22 was considerably faster at 145+kt.
The lower structural longerons of the metroliner firmly attached to the wing box kept it from collapsing although if he had done a go-around it might have folded up. So, where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise. I was discussing this with a former USAF heavy equipment operator (B52 pilot for the unknowing) and he said he was impressed with the technological advances of the SR22 but it would likely be a handful for the arrogant or the ignorant VLT (very low time) pilot.
He will have to do a lot of splainin' to the FAA and my guess is he'll be in real hot water. My guess is his only equipment failure was the nut behind the side stick got loose.

bentwing, your comments are on the money. All I can add is that with most mishaps/accidents there is a deadly series of circumstances, foreseeable or not, that come together that usually end in disaster. Miraculously this one ended well

Merlin must be a strong plane to hold together. And the pilot must have been very cool. Impressive.

This pilot is an example of what may be a Cirrus problem. I’ve heard them referred to as nerd killers, ordinary Doctors can’t afford them.
Cirrus has a slightly lower fatality rate than the overall general aviation rate. Currently .84 Cirrus .93 every other brand.
According to Cirrus they have about 2.5 chute deployment for every fatal accident.
What that sounds like to me is Cirrus pilots are getting in situations that might be fatal 3.4 times as much as other pilots.
Pilot of this Cirrus flew a down wind at 169 knots and 600 agl not parallel to the runway. Then blew through both approach paths before slicing up the Key Lime pi.
The plane was rented to him by a Cirrus Training Center. Who either failed to teach him a thing, not likely, or he was an entitled $%#@@ with an arrogant and selfish attitude. Centennial is one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country and he flew like he was the only barnstormer in town.

Wow, 170 knots on the base leg and he reported the Metroliner in sight. They’re lucky that they had enough altitude for the parachute to deploy. It’s 400 feet level or about 1000 if in a spin, IRRC.

This excellent Juan Browne video, produced very soon after the May 12th mid-air collision provides a great explanation of what occurred. Tower audio, radar tracks, and a first solo pilot who was just landing confirmed the ballistic parachute deployment to the tower. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ph7OR6C90w

Careless private pilot dodged killing people in the air and on land by sheer luck and excellent engineering. Hope the Cirrus pilot loses their license for life. Imagine if the Metroliner had crashed into a populated area.

Pix of the metro liner and the aTC comment says it all, the cirrus over shot the runway approach.

I wonder how much the Metroliner spent at Signature Aviation? My bet is that he did not refuel!

Pilot of the Cirrus may have survived the accident, I doubt his pilot certificate will!

Unbelievable. Seeing that Merlin almost cut in half and the pilot landed it like there was nothing to it. Amazing how there wasn’t any fatalities.

From the pix of the Metroliner and the seemingly intact wings of the Cirrus, the Cirrus prop may have chopped into an inch or two of the crown of the fuselage at high rpm, very high speed and enough bank to clear the vertical stabilizer. Just a guess, a miracle in any case.

What planes collided?

Idiots.