Q&A: Investigation into air crash

The crash scene at Ton Kenfig, Bridgend county, on Wednesday

Aerospace analyst and former pilot Andrew Brookes talks about how air accident investigators will approach their inquiry into a mid-air collision which killed two RAF instructors and two teenage cadets.

How long before we have a full picture of what happened?

It shouldn't be too long in this case. The reason why you see lots of policemen around cordoning off the area is because, today, the air investigation people will be going round marking where the debris is and collecting the instruments.

If the police weren't there, there are some people who would scavenge this or take it off as a souvenir and that would be vital evidence lost, so the accident investigation people will tell from that pretty well what happened and I would expect an interim report in two or three weeks.

What are you initial observations about what is likely to have gone wrong here?

It does sound like a classic mid-air collision, two aeroplanes fly into each other because neither pilot is seeing the other.

Grob Tutor Manufacturer: Grob Aircraft Seats: Two - trainee and instructor Top speed: 155mph (250kmh) Range: 719 miles (1,150km) Engine: 180hp Lycoming Propeller: 3-blade Source: Grob Aircraft

The question is why didn't two qualified pilots see each other and avoid the collision. That's the question - was there a problem with the aeroplane? Were people just not paying attention? Nobody really knows.

If they find things that have gone wrong, they will point to it. If nothing is found to have gone wrong then you are looking at people who unfortunately just didn't see each other.

Would these planes have been controlled by air traffic control?

No, No. These are very light. They're Grob trainers, the Tutor. It's quite a simple side-by-side seat, pilot and pupil [aircraft] and you just simply fly out for air experience and it's visually controlled. You look out and the emphasis is 'see and be seen'. There's no radar control - it would be too low for that.

They both appear to have come from the same base at St Athan so, in theory, they would know that the other one was operating in the same sort of area.

It could be a collision or something that went sadly wrong - we don't know. All we do know is that it was a dreadful thing that happened.

The aircraft itself is a safe aircraft that has been flying for a long time?

Not that long. It has not been long in RAF service - it's a relatively modern aeroplane. It's the latest sort of little basic trainer and the RAF has a very good track record with it.

Andrew Brookes was talking to Good Morning Wales on BBC Radio Wales

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