A 16-year-old pilot crashed his light aircraft and died after air traffic controllers instructed him to make way for a faster plane, an accident report has revealed. Sam Cross was on his second solo flight when he was told to circle the airfield during his landing approach at Southend Airport.
The novice pilot stalled his Cessna 150 while attempting to turn, causing the plane to nosedive into Eastwood Park in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on July 19 last year. Emergency services praised him for steering away from houses, a tower block and a school playground.
The Air Accident Investigation Branch report noted that the control tower used 'non-standard phrases' when asking the teenager to go around. The instruction was given to avoid potential conflict with a faster aircraft approaching behind him.
Sam, from Hornchurch, Essex, had 15 hours of training and was on his second solo flight. His father Jim was waiting at the airport when he heard of the crash and rushed to the scene, but his son died from critical injuries.
The report recommended that the Civil Aviation Authority instruct controllers not to order pilots to go around unless there are 'exceptional, over-riding' safety considerations. Southend Airport was also advised to provide controllers with information on handling inexperienced pilots.
