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Denham Airfield mid-air crash avoided after 'last-minute sighting' | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two light aircraft that came within 200m of colliding avoided a crash when one pilot spotted the danger at the last minute, a report said. | Two light aircraft that came within 200m of colliding avoided a crash when one pilot spotted the danger at the last minute, a report said. |
The Pilatus PC12 and Cessna C152 crafts were on a collision course over Denham Airfield, Buckinghamshire last May, the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) report showed. | The Pilatus PC12 and Cessna C152 crafts were on a collision course over Denham Airfield, Buckinghamshire last May, the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) report showed. |
The Pilatus pilot saw the Cessna "very close" on his right and turned left. | The Pilatus pilot saw the Cessna "very close" on his right and turned left. |
The C152 pilot said he saw the gold aircraft 150-200m away but did not have time to take avoiding action. | The C152 pilot said he saw the gold aircraft 150-200m away but did not have time to take avoiding action. |
UKAB said "chance" had played a large part in the two planes coming so close at an altitude of about 1,000 ft, just after 09:00 BST on 23 May, but the PC12 pilot "flew into conflict" with the C152. | UKAB said "chance" had played a large part in the two planes coming so close at an altitude of about 1,000 ft, just after 09:00 BST on 23 May, but the PC12 pilot "flew into conflict" with the C152. |
The board said it was "unfortunate" the PC12 pilot had not seen the C152 earlier, but it was "fortunate" he did eventually see it, albeit at close range. | The board said it was "unfortunate" the PC12 pilot had not seen the C152 earlier, but it was "fortunate" he did eventually see it, albeit at close range. |
UKAB said both pilots shared equal responsibility for avoiding the collision, but the C152 pilot, who was instructing a student at the time, had right of way. He had recorded a "high risk" of collision. | UKAB said both pilots shared equal responsibility for avoiding the collision, but the C152 pilot, who was instructing a student at the time, had right of way. He had recorded a "high risk" of collision. |
"With a combination of a late sighting, relatively high overtake speed, and reported hard turn away, it was also agreed that separation had been reduced to the minimum, and that chance had played a major part in events," the report said. | "With a combination of a late sighting, relatively high overtake speed, and reported hard turn away, it was also agreed that separation had been reduced to the minimum, and that chance had played a major part in events," the report said. |