1974 Norfolk mid-air collision
Encyclopedia
The 1974 Norfolk mid-air collision happened on the 9 August 1974 at Fordham Fen, Norfolk, England when a Royal Air Force
McDonnell-Douglas Phantom FGR2 of 41 Squadron
collided with a Piper Pawnee crop spraying aircraft. All three aviators were killed, the pilot and navigator of the Phantom and the pilot of the Pawnee. The Phantom pilot was a Royal Air Force Group Captain
and was station commander of RAF Coningsby
. It was the first collision between a civil and military aircraft in the United Kingdom low-flying system.
G-ASVX was a single-engined single-seat crop spraying aircraft built in 1974. The Phantom FGR2 serial number
XV493 was twin-engined two-seat, all-weather military strike/interceptor aircraft.
. Broomhill was used as a temporary base to refuel the aircraft and to load pesticide. At about 14:04 the aircraft had finished spraying a field 6.5 miles (10.5 km) south of Broomhill and was returning to replenish the pesticide hopper. The Phantom departed RAF Coningsby
at 13:51 to fly a low-level navigation and reconnaissance flight at no lower than 250 feet (76.2 m) above ground level. The Phantom was following a standard low-flying route, the Pawnee pilot was aware that military low-flying routes were in the area but the exact routing was classified and not released by the military. About 14:08 about 1 kilometres (1,093.6 yd) west of the village of Hilgay
, the Phantom flying at a speed of about 420 knots (823.1 km/h) struck the Pawnee on its the right side. The Pawnee disintegrated, while the Phantom, on fire and shedding parts of its structure, continued on its heading for a further 1 kilometres (1,093.6 yd) before it hit the ground inverted. All three aviators were killed, the pilot and navigator of the Phantom and the pilot of the Pawnee.
about their proposed operation and type of chemical to be used. Nothing in the regulations required them to inform the military although Farmwork Services had informed nearby RAF Marham
(about 8 nautical miles (14.8 km) from the accident) that they would be spraying an extensive area of Norfolk between June and the end of August 1974.
Investigation of the wreckage failed to determine if either had a working anti-collision light and it was only possible to determine the height of the accident by the use of eye witness accounts. The collision occurred in good visibility at an estimated height above ground level of 300 feet (91.4 m). The investigation could find no evidence to suggest that either of the pilots had a medical problem or that either aircraft had any defect that would have contributed to the accident.
The rules of the air state that the Pawnee should have given way to the Phantom which was closing from the right. But it was accepted that at a closing speed of about 400 knots (783.9 km/h) the time needed by the Pawnee pilot to assess the situation and execute a manoeuvre was minimal. It was also a requirement of the Phantom pilot to make sure he didn't collide with the Pawnee but clearly in this accident the lack of time was an element. Also the military aircraft had only just turned on to the heading and with the Pawnee 15° to his left the view may well have been obstructed by the Phantom's canopy frame.
While it accepted the need for the Royal Air Force
to practise low level high-speed flying the investigation report was concerned about the lack of information on the military low-flying route available to civil pilots, particularly those involved with crop spraying, pipeline, and powerline inspection.
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
McDonnell-Douglas Phantom FGR2 of 41 Squadron
No. 41 Squadron RAF
No. 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force is currently the RAF's Test and Evaluation Squadron , based at RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire. Its official title is "41 TES". The Squadron celebrates its 95th anniversary in 2011, and is one of the oldest RAF squadrons in existence.-First World War, 1916–1919:No...
collided with a Piper Pawnee crop spraying aircraft. All three aviators were killed, the pilot and navigator of the Phantom and the pilot of the Pawnee. The Phantom pilot was a Royal Air Force Group Captain
Group Captain
Group captain is a senior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. It ranks above wing commander and immediately below air commodore...
and was station commander of RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
. It was the first collision between a civil and military aircraft in the United Kingdom low-flying system.
Aircraft
The Piper PA-25-235 Pawnee registeredAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
G-ASVX was a single-engined single-seat crop spraying aircraft built in 1974. The Phantom FGR2 serial number
United Kingdom military aircraft serials
In the United Kingdom to identify individual aircraft, all military aircraft are allocated and display a unique serial number. A unified serial number system, maintained by the Air Ministry , and its successor the Ministry of Defence , is used for aircraft operated by the Royal Air Force , Fleet...
XV493 was twin-engined two-seat, all-weather military strike/interceptor aircraft.
Accident
The Pawnee had departed earlier on the 9 August 1974 from Southend Airport to a disused airfield at Broomhill, near Downham MarketDownham Market
Downham Market is a town and civil parish in Norfolk, England. It lies on the edge of the Fens, on the River Great Ouse, some 20 km south of the town of King's Lynn, 60 km west of the city of Norwich and the same distance north of the city of Cambridge....
. Broomhill was used as a temporary base to refuel the aircraft and to load pesticide. At about 14:04 the aircraft had finished spraying a field 6.5 miles (10.5 km) south of Broomhill and was returning to replenish the pesticide hopper. The Phantom departed RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby
RAF Coningsby , is a Royal Air Force station in Lincolnshire, England. It has been commanded by Group Captain Martin Sampson since 10 December 2010.-Operational units:...
at 13:51 to fly a low-level navigation and reconnaissance flight at no lower than 250 feet (76.2 m) above ground level. The Phantom was following a standard low-flying route, the Pawnee pilot was aware that military low-flying routes were in the area but the exact routing was classified and not released by the military. About 14:08 about 1 kilometres (1,093.6 yd) west of the village of Hilgay
Hilgay
Hilgay is a civil parish in the English county of Norfolk, outside of Downham Market.It covers an area of and had a population of 1,174 in 500 households as of the 2001 census....
, the Phantom flying at a speed of about 420 knots (823.1 km/h) struck the Pawnee on its the right side. The Pawnee disintegrated, while the Phantom, on fire and shedding parts of its structure, continued on its heading for a further 1 kilometres (1,093.6 yd) before it hit the ground inverted. All three aviators were killed, the pilot and navigator of the Phantom and the pilot of the Pawnee.
Investigation
Both aircraft were found to have been maintained correctly and were legally authorised for the flights. Farmwork Services, who had chartered the Pawnee, had informed the local police authorityNorfolk Constabulary
Norfolk Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for the county of Norfolk in England. As of March 2009 the force had a strength of 1,668 police officers, 243 Special Constables, 277 PCSOs and just over 1,300 police staff.-History:...
about their proposed operation and type of chemical to be used. Nothing in the regulations required them to inform the military although Farmwork Services had informed nearby RAF Marham
RAF Marham
Royal Air Force Station Marham, more commonly known as RAF Marham, is a Royal Air Force station; a military airbase, near the village of Marham in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia....
(about 8 nautical miles (14.8 km) from the accident) that they would be spraying an extensive area of Norfolk between June and the end of August 1974.
Investigation of the wreckage failed to determine if either had a working anti-collision light and it was only possible to determine the height of the accident by the use of eye witness accounts. The collision occurred in good visibility at an estimated height above ground level of 300 feet (91.4 m). The investigation could find no evidence to suggest that either of the pilots had a medical problem or that either aircraft had any defect that would have contributed to the accident.
The rules of the air state that the Pawnee should have given way to the Phantom which was closing from the right. But it was accepted that at a closing speed of about 400 knots (783.9 km/h) the time needed by the Pawnee pilot to assess the situation and execute a manoeuvre was minimal. It was also a requirement of the Phantom pilot to make sure he didn't collide with the Pawnee but clearly in this accident the lack of time was an element. Also the military aircraft had only just turned on to the heading and with the Pawnee 15° to his left the view may well have been obstructed by the Phantom's canopy frame.
While it accepted the need for the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
to practise low level high-speed flying the investigation report was concerned about the lack of information on the military low-flying route available to civil pilots, particularly those involved with crop spraying, pipeline, and powerline inspection.
Cause
The investigation determined "The accident occurred because neither pilot saw the other aircraft in time to avoid collision. The 'see and be seen' principle was inadequate for preventing collision in the circumstances that existed. A significant feature which contributed to the accident was the absence of any system for co-ordinating military and civil low flying activities in the low flying areas and link routes."Recommendations
The accident report made seven recommendations:- That the location and vertical extent of the low flying areas and link routes should be made available.
- Private pilots should be alerted to the nature of military low flying activities and the need to avoid them.
- An advisory service be provided to enable civil pilots to co-ordinate their activities with the military.
- That civil aircraft involved in low-flying activities should be painted as conspicuously as possible and fitted with high power collision warning lights preferably strobe type. Also recommended that the military consider fitment of strobe type high power collision warning lights to aircraft engaged in low level training.
- The military review their need for airspace for low level high speed operations and withdraw any areas not needed.
- That the upper limit of the military low flying link routes be limited to 1000 ft instead of 2000 ft, if not possible then 1500 ft should be considered.
- That the rules of the air be amended to allow aircraft with the right of way to climb and necessary pass over the aircraft.