2x L-410 collided in Slovakia
 

7 fatalities due to crash of two L-410 a/c in Slovakia.

17 skydivers in each + crew.

http://img.topky.sk/big/1615121.jpg/...veny-Kamen.jpg

http://img.topky.sk/big/1615021.jpg/...veny-Kamen.jpg

It was an attempt to break skydiving record in the country:

https://scontent-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...e2&oe=567B025E

Under fatalities there are 4 pilots and 3 skydivers. Collision happened at around 4200 feet. 31 skydivers managed to escape in time.

It was this type of a/c:
http://img.topky.sk/big/1614907.jpg/...let-OM-SAB.jpg

not the first time;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p6hqMnsLFY

there were 18 "jump"-pax + 2 pilots on each Let.

dedicated website at JACDEC

They just mixed up castle Červený Kameň with village Červený kameň which is in fact here close to Dubnica airfield.

It is hard to believe but the immediate cause of this fatal accident from August 2015 was pilot in command preoccupied by taking photos with his phone and didn't notice collision course in time.

Here are the photos retrieved from his phone, the first one was taken 9:04:56

https://html1-f.scribdassets.com/43i...c64cf23b4d.jpg


Photo #2 as he closed in at 9:20:31
Close formation flight shortly before impact 9:20:40
Photo from cockpit probably after sudden manoeuvre 9:20:41
Last photo taken at 9:20:43

http://niejemijedno.sk/wp-content/up...6/07/Crash.jpg


7 people died – all 4 pilots and 3 divers. Two of them didn't manage to jump out from doomed aeroplane due to centrifugal forces and one lost parachute and impacted terrain.

Also MTOW of the mentioned a/c was exceeded.

All photos from final report (in Slovak): https://www.scribd.com/doc/307016426...M-SAB-a-OM-ODQ

in order to download the report, I recommend the official website:

2015 - Ministerstvo dopravy, výstavby a regionálneho rozvoja SR

Stating the obvious in one of those articles:

Quote:

---

The immediate cause of the accident was the collision of the aircraft

---

A bit like the later report on the linked website above, where a parachutist died and the cause of accidental death is basically given as the person coming into contact with the ground at speed. Cue a Basil Fawlty remark ???

One very important point is noted, however oddly enough it is not considered as a main factor and something to think about.

"During the investigation the commission did not succeed to document the method and
level of training of the aircraft crews in formation flying and to document the operating
procedures for flying in formations."

Were those crews qualified to fly in formation at all? Did they have any formation flying training (military or so)?

Flying in close formation is not something that you just brief and do. It takes solid training and solid contracts among the crews to perform formation flight in a safe way.

I am not of the impression that the average civilian pilot is ever exposed to close formation flight, nor does he train it on a regular basis.

In memory of pilots lost in this accident four years ago.

RIP