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Crash plane 'avoiding microlight' Crash plane 'avoiding microlight'
(1 day later)
A fatal mid-air collision between two light aircraft over Staffordshire may have happened as one plane tried to avoid a microlight, a report has found.A fatal mid-air collision between two light aircraft over Staffordshire may have happened as one plane tried to avoid a microlight, a report has found.
Pilot Peter Leigh, 60, of Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and David Arthur Sims, 67, of Stoke-on-Trent, died in the crash on 16 December 2007.Pilot Peter Leigh, 60, of Clayton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and David Arthur Sims, 67, of Stoke-on-Trent, died in the crash on 16 December 2007.
Their Luscombe Silvaire may have turned right to avoid a microlight, the Air Accident Investigations Branch said.Their Luscombe Silvaire may have turned right to avoid a microlight, the Air Accident Investigations Branch said.
Their plane collided with a Pacific Aerospace 750 XL which managed to land.Their plane collided with a Pacific Aerospace 750 XL which managed to land.
The two men in the first plane were killed when their aircraft crashed on farmland near Blithfield Reservoir.The two men in the first plane were killed when their aircraft crashed on farmland near Blithfield Reservoir.
Mike Carruthers, who was flying the Pacific Aerospace 750 XL, guided his damaged plane about 25 miles to East Midlands Airport where it made an emergency landing.Mike Carruthers, who was flying the Pacific Aerospace 750 XL, guided his damaged plane about 25 miles to East Midlands Airport where it made an emergency landing.
He was flying with police sergeant Rupert Johnston and his 10-year-old son. The three escaped serious injury.He was flying with police sergeant Rupert Johnston and his 10-year-old son. The three escaped serious injury.
Instructional flightInstructional flight
The AAIB report said there were no eye-witnesses to the actual collision.The AAIB report said there were no eye-witnesses to the actual collision.
But it said further examinations of radar data and investigations at local airfields had identified a "third aircraft".But it said further examinations of radar data and investigations at local airfields had identified a "third aircraft".
The microlight was on an instructional flight from its base in the Lichfield area and the student was being taught turning manoeuvres, the report said.The microlight was on an instructional flight from its base in the Lichfield area and the student was being taught turning manoeuvres, the report said.
The instructor and student were both interviewed by accident investigators and did not remember seeing any other aircraft, the report said.The instructor and student were both interviewed by accident investigators and did not remember seeing any other aircraft, the report said.
'Widespread opposition''Widespread opposition'
The AAIB said it did not have information about the altitude the Luscombe Silvaire was when it begun its turn, which was "unhelpful". The AAIB said it did not have information about the Luscombe Silvaire's altitude when it began its turn, which was "unhelpful".
But the pilot may have been flying at 1,800 ft and seen the microlight coming towards him and "decided to take action to avoid it".But the pilot may have been flying at 1,800 ft and seen the microlight coming towards him and "decided to take action to avoid it".
"In these circumstances a turn to the right would have been the correct action," the report added."In these circumstances a turn to the right would have been the correct action," the report added.
The AAIB report said transponders - technology which helped pilots gain awareness of other craft - would appear to offer an "robust means" of avoiding mid-air collisions.The AAIB report said transponders - technology which helped pilots gain awareness of other craft - would appear to offer an "robust means" of avoiding mid-air collisions.
However, it said this would only be effective if "virtually all" aircraft carried the technology and plans to make this mandatory were met with "widespread opposition" from the recreational flying community and were withdrawn.However, it said this would only be effective if "virtually all" aircraft carried the technology and plans to make this mandatory were met with "widespread opposition" from the recreational flying community and were withdrawn.