Mid-air collision - Parafield Airport, South Australia, on 7 February 2009, VH-TGM, Grob G-115, VH-YTG, Socata TB-10 Tobago

On 7 February 2009, five aircraft were engaged in circuit training and one aircraft was departing runway 03 left (03L) at Parafield Airport, SA. All of the aircraft in the circuit at the time were operated by a local flight school. The control tower was not open and Common Traffic Advisory Frequency - carriage and use of radio required, CTAF (R), procedures were in place.

At about 0736 Central Daylight-saving Time, a S.O.C.A.T.A.-Groupe Aerospatiale TB-10 (Tobago), registered VH-YTG, with an instructor and student on board, was on final approach for a practice short field landing. In the circuit behind the Tobago was a Grob - Burkhaart Flugzeugbau G-115 (Grob), registered VH-TGM, with an instructor and student on board. The Grob was on final approach for a practice flapless approach and landing. The Grob collided with the Tobago from behind, damaging the Tobago‟s rudder with the Grob‟s right wing. Both aircraft remained controllable and were landed on runway 03L and 03 right.

The investigation found that the pilots of the Grob experienced sun glare and background visual clutter on the base leg for runway 03L and were unable to sight the preceding Tobago. The pilots of the Grob did not discern some broadcasts from the Tobago pilots, significantly diminishing their situational awareness. The pilots of the Grob continued the approach without positively identifying the preceding aircraft in the circuit.

Soon after the accident, the aircraft operator's flight safety officer produced a comprehensive accident investigation report that captured the key aspects of the accident. Included in the report were a number of recommendations, which were implemented by the operator.

The investigation identified a safety issue regarding definition of the circuit traffic limit in CTAF(R) and a safety issue related to the positive identification of traffic before turning final.