Investigation Summary
The collision occurred at an estimated height of 300 feet above ground level in good visibility. The Phantom, flying at approximately 420 knots, struck the right side of the Pawnee. The Pawnee disintegrated instantly, while the Phantom caught fire and continued for another kilometer before crashing inverted. Investigators noted that while the Pawnee should have technically given way to the Phantom closing from the right, the closing speed of 400 knots left the Pawnee pilot with almost no time to react. Furthermore, the Phantom pilot's view of the Pawnee may have been obstructed by the cockpit canopy frame. A major contributing factor was that military low-flying routes were classified, meaning civil pilots like the Pawnee operator could not know the exact paths of high-speed military traffic, even though they were aware such activity occurred in the area.
Final Conclusions
The AIB determined that the accident occurred because neither pilot saw the other in time to avoid a collision. The see and be seen principle was deemed inadequate for the circumstances. The primary contributing factor was the absence of a system to coordinate military and civil low-flying activities. The investigation resulted in seven safety recommendations, including the declassification of military low-flying routes and the provision of advisory services for civil pilots to coordinate with the military.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Royal Air Force XV493 — McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR2 · XV493
ADS Aerials G-ASVX — Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee · G-ASVX
Systems & Failure Modes
See and Be Seen
The primary method of collision avoidance in visual flight rules (VFR) conditions, which investigators found inadequate for high-speed low-level encounters.
Low Flying Link Routes
Classified military corridors used for high-speed training; the lack of civil access to these routes was a major contributing factor.
Interesting Facts
- 01The Phantom was following a standard low-flying route at an authorized minimum altitude of 250 feet.
- 02The Pawnee pilot was aware of military activity but did not have access to classified military routing information.
- 03The closing speed between the two aircraft was approximately 400 knots.
- 04The Pawnee operator had informed local police and a nearby RAF station (RAF Marham) of their general spraying area, but no specific coordination system existed.
- 05The Pawnee (G-ASVX) was manufactured in 1964 with MSN 25-2895.
- 06The Phantom (XV493) had MSN 3420.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Route Transparency
Recommended that the location and vertical extent of military low-flying areas and link routes be made available to civil pilots.
Civil-Military Coordination
Recommended the establishment of an advisory service to enable civil pilots to coordinate low-level activities with the military.
Conspicuity Improvements
Recommended that civil aircraft in low-flying roles be painted conspicuously and fitted with high-power strobe collision lights.