Hmmm... whatever the reason, if they aint gunna look out the window then a slower speed at the lower levels would have been more appropriate..
Give me a break. Whilst all the "see and avoid" lecturers are right in a general sense, in this instance it is not relevent.
As I understand it, the RFDS aircraft emerged from solid cloud, and within no more than a
few seconds the other aircraft had flashed by. It happened so quickly that there was no time to see it, let alone avoid it.
It was pure luck that they did not come together.
I also understand that an initial investigation showed that the lighty had not
successfully made any radio calls in relation to his departure from Mount Gambier.
Something wrong with the radio, apparently: They thought they were transmitting ok, but only carrier wave was heard from the other end.
So, the RFDS pilot could not have known the other aircraft was there (no transponder, and effectively, no radio).
And....
no time to see and avoid.
Oh, and no, it wasn't me...