What happened
On 16 December 2007, a Luscombe 8E Silvaire, registration G-AKUI, was conducting a private flight near Blithfield Reservoir in Staffordshire. During the flight, the aircraft entered a turn to the right. Simultaneously, a Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL, registration ZK-KAY, was operating on a cross-country flight toward Tatenhill.
As the two aircraft converged, a collision occurred. The impact caused severe damage to the left wing of G-AK..'UI, rendering the aircraft uncontrollable. The aircraft fell to the ground, resulting in a post-impact fire. Both the pilot and the passenger aboard G-AKUI were killed.
In the ZK-KAY, the collision caused significant damage, including the loss of the left main landing gear and damage to the nose gear and fuselage. Despite the damage, the pilot of ZK-KAY managed to land safely at East Midlands Airport, where the occupants were uninjured.
The investigation
AAIB investigators examined radar data from Birmingham ATC, which revealed a third aircraft—a microlight—was also in the vicinity. This third aircraft was on an instructional flight and was flying on a north-westerly track.
Analysis of the wreckage and engineering studies determined the dynamics of the impact. The investigators established that the left wing of G-AKUI struck the propeller blade and nose landing gear of ZK-KAY. The force of the impact caused the ZK-KAY left landing gear to detach and left significant scrape marks and paint transfers on the ZK-KAY fuselage and intake.
Findings
- The collision occurred while G-AKUI was performing a turn.
- The pilot of ZK-KAY was focused on a navigation task, glancing at a map, at the time of the encounter.
- The failure of the 'see and avoid' principle was a primary factor, as the aircraft were flying toward each other.
- The position of G-KUI relative to ZK-KAY may have been obscured by the engine cowling of the higher-wing aircraft.
- The presence of a third aircraft in the area added complexity to the airspace environment.