Mid-Air Crash which Claimed the lives of two Teenage Girl Pilots

A mid-air crash which claimed the lives of two Air Training Corps cadets and their RAF instructors was said today to have been caused by the instructors being unaware of the position of the other aircraft.

Armed Forces Minister Bill Rammell said the inquiry into the accident near Porthcawl in South Wales last February concluded that 'either the pilots did not see each other, or they did not do so until it was too late'.
It is believed the planes clipped wings before tumbling in flames from the sky during a 20-minute 'air experience' flight from RAF St Athan, Vale of Glamorgan.

He said the RAF inquiry panel found 'the cause of the accident was the controlled flight of both aircraft into the same airspace at the same time as a result of both aircraft captains being unaware of the position and proximity of the other aircraft'.

In a written statement, Mr Rammell said a number of 'contributory, probable and aggravating factors' were identified and the 29 recommendations made by the panel to address them would be implemented 'as soon as practicable'.
Among the recommendations were fitting 'collision warning systems' to the training aircraft.
Cadets Nikkita Walters, 13, and Katie-Jo Davies, 14, who were cousins from Evanstown, near Gilfach Goch in the South Wales valleys, died in the crash.
Their instructors, Hylton Price, 63, from Bridgend, and Andrew Marsh, 24 from Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, were also killed.

Mr Rammell said the purpose of the inquiry was to establish the circumstances of the accident and to learn lessons from it, adding: 'It does not seek to apportion blame.'

He added: 'Our deepest sympathies remain with their families and friends. I know that the RAF community was deeply saddened and shocked by this terrible accident.'

The girls set off for the flight in the Grob Tutor aircraft used by the University of Wales Air Squadron based at the St Athan RAF base near Barry, South Wales.

The RAF Service inquiry said radar showed both were making different turns and heights until crossing above the sand dunes at Kenfig Hill.
Katie-Jo and Nikkita - who had grown up toge

Katie-Jo had joined her cousin in the 1004 Air Training Corps based in Pontypridd, South Wales, just two months earlier and both had put their names down for the taster flight.
Nikkita had been a member of the ATC for eight months and had just passed her first class cadet examinations.

Their parents declined to comment on the inquiry. But earlier the families said: 'Words cannot describe how devastated we are at the loss of our girls. They were much loved and will be so sorely missed.'

Flying Officer Price was a retired wing commander who once flew Tornados and Phantoms and was a member of the RAF voluntary reserves.

Flt Lt Marsh had only been promoted a week before the tragedy and was waiting to start advanced fast jet training at RAF Valley on Anglesey.
An inquest will be held later by Bridgend coroner Phillip Maddox. Mr Rammell said the Ministry of Defence would co-operate fully with the coroner.