PWMURPHY
Well-Known Member
Just wanted to let everyone know that Beijing PanAm did experience a mid-air collision between 2 of the company's aircraft last week. The following are some facts about the incident:
1. Location: Baotou, Inner Mongolia base.
2. Time: Night.
3. Phase of flight: traffic pattern.
4. Aircraft: DA40 and DA42.
5. Injuries: minor injuries to the student pilot in the DA40. No injuries to the pilots in the DA42.
6. Both aircraft were totaled.
Summary:
In good VFR weather, 4 aircraft were flying the pattern at Baotou. The pattern included 3 DA42s and the one DA40. All the DA42s were dual - all doing CPL multi work. The DA40 was a solo CPL student doing night patterns. The DA40 was flying a tight pattern inside the DA42. He was instructed by ATC to follow the aircraft ahead (DA42) and acknowledged the instruction. The DA42 behind the DA40 warned the tower that the separation looked like it was deteriorating. ATC again warned the pilot but did not get a response. The DA42 turned base but saw the DA40 too late to avoid it. The DA40 impacted the DA42 at the right main gear and rudder. Both aircraft though severely damaged remained flyable. The DA42 landed on airport property but off the runway. The DA40 landed in a nearby village, damaging several houses but the fuselage remained in an alleyway preventing severe injury to those on the ground or to the pilot.
This, of course, is "unofficial" information - but are facts to the best of my knowledge at this time.
The school is currently on a safety stand-down and expects to be flying again in one to four weeks. This is a normal process for China as the CAAC does their investigation and as the school does its own self-improvement study.
All instructors and employees continue to be paid during this period. Though this is obviously a rather large negative event and has prevented the graduation of the first class of ab initio students, the school will survive.
Patrick Murphy
Beijing PanAm
1. Location: Baotou, Inner Mongolia base.
2. Time: Night.
3. Phase of flight: traffic pattern.
4. Aircraft: DA40 and DA42.
5. Injuries: minor injuries to the student pilot in the DA40. No injuries to the pilots in the DA42.
6. Both aircraft were totaled.
Summary:
In good VFR weather, 4 aircraft were flying the pattern at Baotou. The pattern included 3 DA42s and the one DA40. All the DA42s were dual - all doing CPL multi work. The DA40 was a solo CPL student doing night patterns. The DA40 was flying a tight pattern inside the DA42. He was instructed by ATC to follow the aircraft ahead (DA42) and acknowledged the instruction. The DA42 behind the DA40 warned the tower that the separation looked like it was deteriorating. ATC again warned the pilot but did not get a response. The DA42 turned base but saw the DA40 too late to avoid it. The DA40 impacted the DA42 at the right main gear and rudder. Both aircraft though severely damaged remained flyable. The DA42 landed on airport property but off the runway. The DA40 landed in a nearby village, damaging several houses but the fuselage remained in an alleyway preventing severe injury to those on the ground or to the pilot.
This, of course, is "unofficial" information - but are facts to the best of my knowledge at this time.
The school is currently on a safety stand-down and expects to be flying again in one to four weeks. This is a normal process for China as the CAAC does their investigation and as the school does its own self-improvement study.
All instructors and employees continue to be paid during this period. Though this is obviously a rather large negative event and has prevented the graduation of the first class of ab initio students, the school will survive.
Patrick Murphy
Beijing PanAm
