Introduction
On 10 June 2008, at approximately 17:35 UTC, a Cessna 152 (registration CS-DGV) departed from Santarém aerodrome on a training flight bound for Maia aerodrome. The aircraft was operated by Nortávia – Transportes Aéreos, SA and carried two pilots: a pilot undergoing training and a pilot-instructor. Earlier that day, the Cessna had made touch-and-go landings at Santa Cruz and Santarém before a full-stop landing for a brief rest.
Flight History
The Cessna climbed after departure and contacted the Flight Information Service (FIS) at 17:35:53, requesting 1,500 feet. The FIS assigned squawk 3221 and instructed the Cessna to climb to 2,000 feet on QNH 1015. At 17:38:41, an unidentified voice transmitted on the radio, saying "Delta Golf Victor, one two three five five." The Cessna pilot responded with "one two three five five." The pilots then switched to 123.55 MHz, where the Piper PA-28 (CS-DCQ) called, requesting the Cessna reduce speed and reporting its position at 5 o'clock. The instructor searched for the traffic and confirmed it at about 50 meters away, same altitude. He instructed the student to maintain altitude and heading. When he looked back, the Piper was no longer visible.
Collision
At 17:40:25, radar showed the Cessna at 1,900 feet with a descent rate of 400 feet per minute. The instructor again asked the Piper for its position. The response was: "I'm right above you!" Moments later, the Cessna crew heard a bang from above and saw something pass in front of the windshield—what appeared to be a wheel fairing. At 17:40:27, the transponder momentarily lost altitude data, indicating the collision. The Piper's landing gear struck the Cessna's upper fuselage, damaging the rudder, flaps, and tearing off the propeller.
Emergency Landings
Both aircraft executed emergency landings. The Cessna landed in a cultivated field, sustaining substantial damage but its two pilots evacuated uninjured. The Piper crashed into a plowed field, was destroyed by fire, and its three occupants—pilot, adult passenger, and a 10-year-old child—were injured but able to leave the aircraft by themselves.
Aftermath
The Gabinete de Prevenção e Investigação de Acidentes com Aeronaves (GPIAA) was notified by the National Operations Centre of Carnaxide at 17:55 UTC, by NAV at 18:10, and by the Cessna operator at 18:15.