TWO AIRCRAFT HIT UK MOTORWAYS

Formal inquiries have been launched into two general aviation crashes, which saw aircraft hit UK motorways within a week of each other. In both cases, the aircraft (a) _______________ with road vehicles, although there were no fatalities.

At midday on 21 May a Robin DR400 light aircraft (G-RBIN) suffered loss of power during the early climb after a touch-and-go landing while the pilot was (b) _______________ circuits using runway 20 at Rochester airfield, Kent. The pilot made an emergency radio call, (c) _______________ engine failure, and began to turn back to the runway, but the aircraft either stalled or was close to stalling when it crashed on the M2 motorway close to the airfield.

The weather was good, with wind 240°/10 kt. The pilot, flying solo, (d)_______________ severe back injuries, but injuries to drivers on the road were not serious.

The other accident, at Southampton Airport, involved a Cessna Citation 550 (G-JETB) with two pilots on board. It (e) _______________ at 06.30 local time on 26 May on runway 20, in heavy rain, and overran by about 100m on to the M27 motorway, where it (f) _______________ fire.

There were thunderstorms in the area and, according to the airport, the pilot had been advised that, by using runway 20, he would have a 15 kt tailwind on landing and that the runway was very wet. The pilots and the vehicle drivers involved in collisions with the aircraft hull suffered minor injuries.