Accident Overview
On 16 December 2007 at 1158 UTC, a Luscombe 8E Silvaire Deluxe (G-AKUI) and a Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL (ZK-KAY) collided in mid-air near Rectory Farm, Rugeley, Staffordshire. The collision occurred under visual flight rules (VFR) in benign weather with good visibility below a cloud layer and some haze. G-AKUI sustained severe damage, fell to the ground, and caught fire; both occupants died. ZK-KAY sustained damage to its left main landing gear, nose landing gear, and underside but landed safely at East Midlands Airport with no injuries to its three occupants.
Aircraft Information
G-AKUI was a 1947 Luscombe 8E, a single-engine, two-seat, high-wing monoplane with tailwheel landing gear. It was all-metal except for fabric-covered wings. It was blue with silver markings and had a white anti-collision beacon. It carried a radio but was not believed to have an ATC transponder. The aircraft held a valid Permit to Fly.
ZK-KAY was a 2004 Pacific Aerospace PAC 750XL, an all-metal, low-wing utility aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 turboprop engine, it was configured for skydiving with two seats. It had strobe lights on each wingtip and a Mode C transponder.
History of Flights
ZK-KAY departed Cark, Cumbria, for a VFR flight to Cranfield for maintenance. The pilot (owner) occupied the left front seat; two passengers (an adult and a child) sat in the cabin. The transponder was set to conspicuity code 7000. Approaching Manchester Control Zone, the pilot spoke with approach control but did not request radar service. After flying the Manchester Low Level Route, he climbed to 2,000 ft and turned toward the destination at about 160 kt. Later, the controller suggested changing frequency, but the pilot remained on Manchester frequency.
As ZK-KAY neared Blithfield Reservoir, the pilot glanced at his map and heard a 'thud'. Thinking the engine had failed, he banked left to look for a landing site. He then saw burning wreckage and realized a collision had occurred. Engine instruments showed normal readings. He transmitted a 'mayday' to Manchester approach, set course for Tatenhill aerodrome, and briefed passengers for emergency landing. The air/ground operator noted the left main landing gear was missing and advised diversion to East Midlands Airport, which had better fire and rescue facilities. The pilot landed on Runway 09; the aircraft touched down on right and nose gear, then settled on the left wingtip, causing a yaw to the left. The aircraft came to a stop; all occupants evacuated without injury. Fire services applied firefighting foam; no fire occurred.
G-AKUI was owned by an engineer but flown by a pilot with 670 hours (130 on type). The pilot and owner intended a short local flight from Abbots Bromley. They mentioned not planning to land away. The aircraft had no transponder; a GPS receiver capable of recording flight data was on board but destroyed. Radar indicated take-off at about 1150 hrs. At 1155 hrs, G-AKUI was flying south near Blithfield Reservoir. Radar showed another aircraft (later identified as a microlight) on a northwesterly track to the southeast. The two aircraft were flying toward each other; nearly simultaneously, the other aircraft turned left and G-AKUI turned right. G-AKUI continued turning to an easterly heading; the other aircraft continued its left turn. G-AKUI and ZK-KAY then collided.
In the collision, G-AKUI's left wing was substantially damaged, rendering the aircraft incapable of flight. It fell to the ground and caught fire; the impact was not survivable. Fragments of the left wing fell to the west of the main wreckage.
The third aircraft was a microlight on an instructional flight from Lichfield. The instructor and student were interviewed; they flew near the reservoir at about 1,800 ft but saw no other aircraft.
Recorded Flight Data
Neither accident aircraft was required to have a flight recorder. ZK-KAY's GPS could not record track data; G-AKUI's GPS was destroyed. The third aircraft's handheld GPS was not switched on. Radar data from a commercial feed (Birmingham ATC) recorded all three aircraft until the collision. At the collision moment, the radar returns of G-AKUI and ZK-KAY merged; after that, only the primary return of ZK-KAY was recorded (its transponder antenna broke off). Radar images at 24-second intervals showed the aircraft's positions.
Injuries and Damage
G-AKUI's pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries; the aircraft was destroyed. ZK-KAY's left main landing gear separated, with minor damage to nose landing gear, underside, and left wing. None of its occupants were injured.