https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/en/page/4 ... y-training
Publication date report
31.10.2018
Type
Shortened Investigation
Status
Completed
Investigation results of the Swiss authorities are used for both flight safety and legal purposes.
For that reason, and because the accident took place in Dutch airspace,
the Dutch Safety Board started an independent investigation into the accident,
for safety purposes only.
Beside this safety investigation a criminal investigation
was started by the (Dutch) Public Prosecutor for military affairs,
which did not result in further prosecution.
Numerous close-up photos of the damage thru
https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/en/media/ ... lision.pdf 
The Hague, October 2018
The reports issued by the Dutch Safety Board are public.
All reports are also available on the Safety Board’s website:
http://www.safetyboard.nl
Conclusions
The accident happened because the pilot of aircraft number 3 lost sight of aircraft
number 2 while manoeuvring in close distance of number 2 during a formation re-join.
As a result, aircraft number 3 collided with number 2 while both aircraft had an opposite
bank to each other.
Although pilots stated that procedures are in place
when losing sight of the formation
members,
no procedures were found.
Contributing factors
Flying both operational and display flights with multiple aircraft types,
limited training flights and
lack of adequate procedures in the case a pilot loses sight on other aircraft,
might have played a role in the origin of the accident.
Numerous close-up photos of the damage thru
https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/en/media/ ... lision.pdf
Findings
The Royal Dutch Air Force Open Air Days were held in accordance with the Air Display
Permit of the Dutch Ministry of Defence.
All six Patrouille Swiss aircraft arrived in the morning of 9 June 2016.
After the crew
finished pre-flight briefings and preparing the aircraft,
the six aircraft took off the same
day around 16.00 hours for a rehearsal flight.
Due to a misjudgement of speed and distance by pilot number 3 while re-joining the
formation, aircraft number 3 under flew number 2 and overtook the aircraft.
Number 3 then reduced power and banked to the right to recover from this overshoot
while numbers 1 and 2 banked to the left to make a left turn as planned.
While the pilot of aircraft number 3 lost sight of number 2 aircraft, aircraft number 3
collided with number 2 because both aircraft had a bank opposite to each other.
Because number 2 aircraft flew faster than number 3 aircraft, there was a relative
movement between both aircraft.
Parts of the number 3 aircraft’s left wing hit the
number 2 aircraft’s right wing underside and right-hand horizontal stabiliser
from the front to the
back.
Because of the damage sustained during the collision, number 3 aircraft became
uncontrollable and crashed.
The pilot ejected and became slightly injured.
Although damaged, number 2 aircraft could return to the air base and landed
uneventfully.
Both pilots involved held valid licenses and valid medical certificates.
In the Swiss Air Force the F-5E Tiger II aircraft is used in the Patrouille Suisse display
team, as well as, amongst others, for training purposes.
The pilots of the Patrouille Suisse display team are not posted full-time to the display
team.
They fly both operational flights and display flights with multiple aircraft types.
The frequency of training flights of the Patrouille Suisse display team is lower than those
of other European display teams.
Crew
Pilot number 2 joined the Swiss Air Force in 2004.
After his training he had been flying operational (training) missions on F-5E Tiger II and F/A18 Hornet.
He joined Patrouille Suisse in 2012.
He holds type ratings for: FA-18 Hornet, F-5E Tiger, PC-6 and is instructor
pilot on PC-7, PC-21 and FA-18 Hornet.
He accumulated a total flying time of 1,990 hours, from which around 456 hours on the
F-5E Tiger II.
In 2016 he flew 120 hours F-18 and around 60 hours F-5E Tiger II.
The last 30 days he made eight flights on the F-5E Tiger II.
He held a valid pilot license and a valid
medical certificate.
Pilot number 3 joined the Swiss Air Force in 2012.
He had been an FA-18 Hornet pilot, flying operational (training) missions and
also flew the PC-21 and PC-7 as an instructor
pilot.
In 2015 he was converted to fly the F-5E Tiger II to become a member of Patrouille
Suisse.
He had never flown the F-5E Tiger II before.
Since 2015 he had flown approximately
125 hours on this aircraft.
His second season as member of Patrouille Suisse started in
April 2016.
Since he joined the Swiss Air Force, he had a total flying experience of around
1,257 hours.
The last 30 days he made ten flights on the F-5E Tiger II. He held a valid
pilot license and a valid medical certificate.
All pilots of Patrouille Suisse have experience as operational pilot in the Swiss Air Force
on the FA-18 Hornet.
Their role as member of Patrouille Suisse is additional to their
normal operational task.
Particularly for their role as team member of Patrouille Suisse, all
pilots fly the F-5E Tiger II aircraft.
Numerous close-up photos of the damage thru
https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/en/media/ ... lision.pdf
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