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| Midair collision over San Francisco Bay occurred during passing manoeuvre | Midair collision over San Francisco Bay occurred during passing manoeuvre |
| (4 months later) | |
| A federal investigator said on Monday that a midair collision between two planes that ended with one crashing into San Francisco Bay over the weekend occurred when one pilot attempted a passing manoeuvre. | A federal investigator said on Monday that a midair collision between two planes that ended with one crashing into San Francisco Bay over the weekend occurred when one pilot attempted a passing manoeuvre. |
| The lead National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator, Howard Plagens, said the pilot of a vintage Hawker Sea Fury TMK 20 pulled up to the left side of a travelling companion flying a Cessna 210. The Sea Fury's pilot heard a "thump" and immediately focused on trying to fly his own plane to land safely. | The lead National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator, Howard Plagens, said the pilot of a vintage Hawker Sea Fury TMK 20 pulled up to the left side of a travelling companion flying a Cessna 210. The Sea Fury's pilot heard a "thump" and immediately focused on trying to fly his own plane to land safely. |
| Plagens said the Sea Fury pilot saw the Cessna going down but did not see it crash. | Plagens said the Sea Fury pilot saw the Cessna going down but did not see it crash. |
| "Obviously, he's still shaken up," said Plagens, who interviewed the surviving pilot twice. | "Obviously, he's still shaken up," said Plagens, who interviewed the surviving pilot twice. |
| The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said searchers located the Cessna under 13ft of water about one and a half miles off the Richmond shoreline, east of San Francisco. The crashed plane and its pilot have not been recovered, and officials have not identified the two pilots. | The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said searchers located the Cessna under 13ft of water about one and a half miles off the Richmond shoreline, east of San Francisco. The crashed plane and its pilot have not been recovered, and officials have not identified the two pilots. |
| Plagens inspected the Hawker, which suffered tail damage, and said he was awaiting the recovery of the Cessna to continue his investigation. | Plagens inspected the Hawker, which suffered tail damage, and said he was awaiting the recovery of the Cessna to continue his investigation. |
| It was not immediately clear why the planes were flying so close together. | It was not immediately clear why the planes were flying so close together. |
| John Cox, chief executive of the consulting firm Safety Operating Systems and a pilot with 44 years of experience, said the distance that pilots should maintain from nearby planes depends on whether the planes are flying together in formation. | John Cox, chief executive of the consulting firm Safety Operating Systems and a pilot with 44 years of experience, said the distance that pilots should maintain from nearby planes depends on whether the planes are flying together in formation. |
| "If they are not flying in formation, basically several hundred feet," Cox told the Associated Press. If they are flying in formation, that distance may shrink to as little as 30 or 40ft, he said. | "If they are not flying in formation, basically several hundred feet," Cox told the Associated Press. If they are flying in formation, that distance may shrink to as little as 30 or 40ft, he said. |
| The overtaking plane – in this case, the Sea Fury – is responsible for maintaining separation, but it was possible that the surviving pilot had not seen how close he was to the Cessna, Cox said. | The overtaking plane – in this case, the Sea Fury – is responsible for maintaining separation, but it was possible that the surviving pilot had not seen how close he was to the Cessna, Cox said. |
| The collision occurred at about 4pm on Sunday, near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. | The collision occurred at about 4pm on Sunday, near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. |
| Witnesses at Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor told the San Francisco Chronicle the Cessna spiralled out of control and crashed into the choppy water. Debris was found in the bay. | Witnesses at Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor told the San Francisco Chronicle the Cessna spiralled out of control and crashed into the choppy water. Debris was found in the bay. |
| The Sea Fury's pilot landed at Eagle's Nest Airport in the small city of Ione in Amador County, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor. The Sea Fury's occupants – a husband and wife – were not hurt. It was unclear how many people were in the Cessna. | The Sea Fury's pilot landed at Eagle's Nest Airport in the small city of Ione in Amador County, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor. The Sea Fury's occupants – a husband and wife – were not hurt. It was unclear how many people were in the Cessna. |
| Both planes had departed from Eagle's Nest Airport to participate in the Pacific Coast Dream Machines, an annual festival at Half Moon Bay Airport that features a variety of planes, motorcycles and cars. Both planes left Half Moon Bay, about 20 miles south of San Francisco, and were on their return flight. | Both planes had departed from Eagle's Nest Airport to participate in the Pacific Coast Dream Machines, an annual festival at Half Moon Bay Airport that features a variety of planes, motorcycles and cars. Both planes left Half Moon Bay, about 20 miles south of San Francisco, and were on their return flight. |
| FAA records indicate the Sea Fury, a vintage British fighter plane, is registered to Sanders Aeronautics in Ione. A man who answered the phone at the company's listed number declined to comment. | |
| Sanders Aeronautics' website said the family-run company specialises in aircraft restoration, and brothers Dennis and Brian Sanders are avid air racers. | Sanders Aeronautics' website said the family-run company specialises in aircraft restoration, and brothers Dennis and Brian Sanders are avid air racers. |