What happened
On the evening of the accident, Delta Air Transport of Belgium organized a flight involving two aircraft to capture promotional footage. The operation involved an Embraer 120 Brasilia, registered OO-DTH, and a Piper 601P Aerostar, registered N4PC. The mission required the two planes to fly in formation near Antwerp Airport (ANW).
The OO-DTH departed from Liège-Bierset Airport (LGG) at 17:57, while the N4PC departed from Antwerp at 18:43, intending to rendezvous near Kallo. To accommodate a camera crew positioned on the right side of the N4PC, the flight plan dictated that the Piper would fly on the left side of the Brasilia.
After circling Antwerp, the crew of the Brasilia notified Antwerp air traffic control of their intent to perform a low-altitude pass over runway 29, followed by a high-speed pass. The Aerostar was to remain alongside the larger aircraft during these maneuvers before breaking formation and proceeding to Brussels. Following clearance from Antwerp Tower at 19:06, the pilot of the N4PC was informed of the specific descent and maneuver sequence. The pilot of the Aerostar acknowledged the plan, stating they would fly straight ahead.
At 19:11, both aircraft executed the low pass over runway 29 at approximately 140 knots. As the OO-DTH began a left turn while climbing away, it struck the N4PC. The impact sheared the tail section from the Piper, causing it to crash near a nearby railway line. The collision resulted in four fatalities among the occupants of the Aerostar. The crew of the Brasilia managed to perform an emergency landing at Antwerp Airport without further incident.
Findings
- The collision occurred during a coordinated formation flight maneuver.
- The impact resulted in the structural failure of the Piper's tail section.