Porthcawl Mid-Air Collision
Encyclopedia
The Porthcawl mid-air collision occurred just before 11 am on 11 February 2009 when two Royal Air Force
single-engine propeller aircraft collided close to the town of Porthcawl
in South Wales. The Grob Tutor aircraft were from an Air Experience Flight
based at MOD St Athan, which gives flying training to RAF Air Cadets
.
One eyewitness told the Daily Telegraph that she observed the aircraft before the aircraft collided. "I just couldn't believe it. At first there wasn't an explosion straight away but then there was. They just went down." A pub landlord in Porthcawl added "what people are saying is that there was a loud bang and they saw one aeroplane spinning to the ground but there are two aeroplanes involved. The fire brigade extinguished some of the flames and the other plane carried on for another mile and came down towards Margam."
It was reported that debris from the two aircraft came down, nearly hitting staff from the Kenfig Nature Reserve, who were working just below where the accident occurred. It was widely reported that at least one of the two aircraft was on fire after it hit the ground, and over 90 firefighters arrived at the scene following the accident.
along with two female air cadets from 1004 SQN (Pontypridd), who were cousins, died in the collision.
The cousins who were on an Air Experience Flight (AEF) were:
The two RAF personnel were:
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...
single-engine propeller aircraft collided close to the town of Porthcawl
Porthcawl
Porthcawl is a town on the south coast of Wales in the county borough of Bridgend, 25 miles west of the capital city, Cardiff and 19 miles southeast of Swansea...
in South Wales. The Grob Tutor aircraft were from an Air Experience Flight
Air Experience Flight
An Air Experience Flight is a training unit of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve whose main purpose is to give introductory flying experience to Air Cadets or the RAF section of the Combined Cadet Force...
based at MOD St Athan, which gives flying training to RAF Air Cadets
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
.
Incident
The two Tutor training planes clipped wings in midair at around 5,000ft, and it was reported that one individual was seen to jump out of one of the aircraft. Wreckage from the two aircraft came down in clear weather less than a mile from the M4 motorway and a mainline railway line. The Grob planes had been involved in 20-minute "air experience" flights from RAF St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan.One eyewitness told the Daily Telegraph that she observed the aircraft before the aircraft collided. "I just couldn't believe it. At first there wasn't an explosion straight away but then there was. They just went down." A pub landlord in Porthcawl added "what people are saying is that there was a loud bang and they saw one aeroplane spinning to the ground but there are two aeroplanes involved. The fire brigade extinguished some of the flames and the other plane carried on for another mile and came down towards Margam."
It was reported that debris from the two aircraft came down, nearly hitting staff from the Kenfig Nature Reserve, who were working just below where the accident occurred. It was widely reported that at least one of the two aircraft was on fire after it hit the ground, and over 90 firefighters arrived at the scene following the accident.
Casualties
Two flying instructors from 1 Air Experience Flight1 Air Experience Flight
No. 1 Air Experience Flight is one of twelve Air Experience Flights run by the Air Cadet Organisation of the Royal Air Force. The primary purpose of the AEF organisation is to provide air experience to members of the Air Training Corps, Combined Cadet Force Section and occasionally, the Girls...
along with two female air cadets from 1004 SQN (Pontypridd), who were cousins, died in the collision.
The cousins who were on an Air Experience Flight (AEF) were:
- Cadet Nikkita Marie Walters – aged 13
- Cadet Katie-Jo Davies – aged 14
The two RAF personnel were:
- Flying OfficerFlying OfficerFlying officer is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence...
Hylton Price RAFVR (ex-regular RAF Wing Commander) – aged 63 - Flight LieutenantFlight LieutenantFlight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. It ranks above flying officer and immediately below squadron leader. The name of the rank is the complete phrase; it is never shortened to "lieutenant"...
Andrew Marsh RAF – aged 24