Duxford Plane Crash

11 July 2011, 09:39 | Updated: 11 July 2011, 15:25

An investigation has started after two military planes collided at the Duxford Imperial War Museum, near Cambridge.

The American military aircraft were taking part in a "Flying Legends" air display when they clipped wings over agricultural land yesterday [Sunday].

The crash forced one pilot to bail out and parachute to safety before his plane crashed into a field.

The second aircraft was able to continue flying and landed safely.

Did you witness the crash? Email Cambridgeshire.News@heart.co.uk.

Nobody was hurt and The Air Accident Investigation Branch, together with the museum, is investigating.

Staff at Duxford are also reviewing whether any changes need to be made to flying procedures. 

David Quinton, from Woodhurst in Cambridgeshire, filmed the above footage.

He said: "I was on a hill overlooking the airfield with some real enthusiasts trying to get the best shots.

This happened was one of the last of the planes flying past and at first I didn't register what had happened.

I heard someone saying he had 'bailed out', meaning the pilot was in his parachute.

I watched the pilot parachuting to the ground as his plane fell out of the sky. It was a horrible moment.

Fortunately the plane didn't blow up but it fell to the ground. Only when I looked back on the video did I see the plane had crashed."

A spokesperson for Duxford said: "Imperial War Museum Duxford can confirm that the flying incident at yesterday’s air show was a mid-air collision between North American P-51D Mustang (D-FBBD) and Douglas AD-4NA Skyraider (F-AZDP).

The incident took place over agricultural land to the south west of the airfield just after 5.00pm, at the end of the flying display.

The Skyraider suffered damage to its starboard wing, though was able to land safely.

The pilot was unharmed.

The pilot of the Mustang baled out of the damaged aircraft and parachuted to safety, suffering minor injuries.  The aircraft came down in a field away from buildings or property.

There was an immediate response by the onsite emergency services in accordance with Imperial War Museum Duxford’s event safety plan, co-ordinated by Cambridgeshire Constabulary, who were already present at the air show as is normal practice.

Members of the public were not involved in the incident.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has today begun its formal enquiry into the incident and the Imperial War Museum is complying fully with the requirements of the AAIB’s investigation team.

Imperial War Museum Duxford is aware that the AAIB’s investigation can take some time and there will therefore be an immediate internal review to determine if any changes to flying procedures are required."