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Casualties unknown

Mid-air collision between Robin DR400 and radio-controlled glider at Shoreham Airport (F-GSBM and no registration)

Near Shoreham Airport, West Sussex, GB

On April 30, 2015, a Robin DR 400-180 and SAS Wildthing radio-controlled model glider (registration F-GSBM and no registration) was involved in an aviation accident near Near Shoreham Airport, West Sussex, GB. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot of the Robin had not seen the glider, and the pilot of the glider had not heard or seen the Robin approaching until it was too late to take avoiding action. This summary draws on records from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

Sourcesthe UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)Primary reportUpdated 2026-09-13Data APIEditorial standards

A Robin DR400-180 (F-GSBM) collided with a radio-controlled model glider while on approach to Shoreham Airport on 30 April 2015. The light aircraft sustained minor damage and landed safely.

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 30 April 2015 at 0953 UTC, a Robin DR400-180, registration F-GSBM, was descending on the base leg for Runway 20 at Shoreham Airport, West Sussex. The aircraft, a four-seat fixed-wing piston-engined plane manufactured in 1997 and powered by a Lycoming O-360-A3A engine, was on a private cross-country flight from Lille, France, carrying one crew member and two passengers. During the approach, the aircraft's right wing struck a SAS Wildthing radio-controlled model glider, which is an unpowered unmanned aircraft weighing 0.615 kg with a wingspan of 1.17 m. The collision resulted in scrape damage to the right wing leading edge of the Robin and minor damage to the aileron and rudder of the model glider. No injuries were reported, and the Robin landed safely after the incident.

Probable cause

The pilot of the Robin had not seen the glider, and the pilot of the glider had not heard or seen the Robin approaching until it was too late to take avoiding action.
Midair collision

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