Within 48 hrs of the collision between the Cessna 402C and a rand K2 on August 17th 2008 the Warwickshire Police (the smallest force in the UK) opened a 'criminal investigation' into the cause and responsibility for the collision. The purpose is to seek a prosecution.
On the 18th August 2008 the Warwickshire Police represented by D.Sup. Adrian McGee, SIO invited the families of the 4 who died in the Cessna to attend a meeting in Coventry where we would hear from the police and the AAIB represented by Mr Richard Ross.
As you might imagine this was a highly charged and highly emotional meeting. At that time, just 36 hours after the collision, from the evidence available to us it appeared that the 2 aircraft involved in the collision had followed ATC instructions and were positioned in the landing pattern for Coventry Airport, and a 3rd aircraft a P28 was already on finals to land.
Richard Ross, AAIB stated to the meeting that the purpose of the AAIB was "to establish cause and NOT to establish liability or blame for an accident". I asked Richard Ross the hypothetical question ...."if Coventry ATC positioned 2 aircraft for approach to the airport which resulted in those aircraft colliding, surely responsibility can be established?" Mr Ross simply repeated his statement, "our purpose is to establish cause, not responsibility"
The final report from the AAIB is expected very soon, I am sure you will find it interesting reading.
The above opinions are solely those of Alan Beagley and no-one else, certainly not those of either Warwickshire Police and/or the AAIB
